Need to promote rice farming in rural areas

Caption: DAL food security technical officer Patrick Oa (long sleeve shirt) explains features of rice harvester to rice farmers in Eastern Highlands province during a training programme. -DAL food security file photo

 

By BUSISI SIWAKA of DAL

 

Rice can be grown anywhere but the main problem is lack of quality seeds, seed distribution, training and rice milling facilities.

This is more so in the rural communities, especially the remote areas, where lack of transport and road infrastructure is another big obstacle.

There are many farmers willing to grow rice but they need access to quality seeds, improved distribution of the seeds, training and also rice mills.

 While some farmers are prepared to use whatever little resources they have, others expect government services to be delivered right to their doorstep.

Others just want to work hard and get their hands dirty first before seeking further assistance.

One farmer from Kakoro village in the remote Lakekamu local level government (LLG) in Gulf province braved all odds to travel into Port Moresby last week to pick up rice seeds at the Department of Agriculture and Livestock offices.

Despite heavy rains and flooding, he traveled by dingy and road to get the seeds.

Kamas Imau said he started growing rice at a young age and took up employment in the city before returning home and back to rice farming.

He was happy to have gained valuable knowledge and skills in rice cultivation.

Encouraged by an Asian businessman, Mr Inau advised his family members and friends to start growing rice again.

Despite many difficulties, he has been struggling to grow rice and has been continuously seeking help from government agencies like DAL and politicians.

A former, MP Ekis Ropenu, bought him a micro rice mill which was very useful in assisting other rice farmers as well. 

The mill is still in good condition and this has motivated many people to start growing rice.

DAL officials, who are aware of Mr Imau’s needs, confirmed the remoteness of the area and lack of essential services and high transport costs.

They said rural villagers were being encouraged to grow rice as an alternative food source besides their normal diet of sago and others.

 Farmers in the remote areas need government assistance and access to services.

DAL is prepared to provide more training for farmers in rice cultivation, however, there needs to be more cooperation from provincial authorities.

DAL officials also suggested that more rice farmers should be encouraged to grow rice both for household consumption as well as for seed distribution.

 The current process where farmers travel to Port Moresby to obtain rice seeds is too expensive and cumbersome. 

 

Coffee rehabilitation is touching lives

By REUBEN W SENGERE of CIC

 

Coffee rehabilitation is touching the lives of many genuine coffee farmers in Papua New Guinea.

“Is this the Coffee Industry Corporation that I know in the past?” asked Sime Bangkoma (pictured), a coffee garden owner in the Aiyura Valley.

He asked the question as such intervention had not happened in the coffee industry in recent times.

Mr Bangkoma shed tears when he saw a service provider group pruning his coffee trees.

The CIC engaged the local group to rehabilitate the coffee trees under its district-by-district coffee rehabilitation programme.

The Bangkoma name is synonymous with the game of rugby league.

Sime Bangkoma is the elder brother of Napolean and Petrus Bangkoma, who have donned the coveted PNG Kumul jumper in the past.

 He has a large coffee block which was developed under the 20-hectare block scheme initiated by the former Rural Development Bank (now National Development Bank).

The service provider group that carried out the pruning was a coffee farmer group that had been trained in rehabilitation.

The group underwent a participatory rural appraisal planning (PRAP) exercise where farmers identified their shortcomings, and accordingly, CIC provided tailored-training to meet their needs.

 According to the director for the programme in the district, Anton Ningiramu, the use of CIC-trained farmer groups would sustain the programme.

“We believe the farmer group members will implement such regimes in their own gardens as well as render their services to others,” he said.

“Farmers that have bigger gardens could also use the services of CIC-trained farmer groups in carrying out coffee rehabilitation work.”

The coffee rehabilitation is part of the district-by-district programme that is currently being piloted in Obura-Wonenara in Eastern Highlands province, Kundiawa-Gembogl in Simbu and South Waghi in Western Highlands.

Sime Bangkoma was on the verge of abandoning his garden to plant kaukau (sweet potato) because of rampant cherry stealing.

“Registered wet mills should be the only place where cherry should be sold,” he said of this scourge.

“CIC is implementing the cherry ban policy which needs a concerted effort from all stakeholders for its success.”

Apart from coffee, Mr Bangkoma also grows rice.

Rice growing is becoming popular in Aiyura, popularly known as ‘Windy Valley’.

Local Obura-Wonenara MP John Boito is aggressively promoting the farming of rice so that the fertile valley of Aiyura has another alternate crop. 

All's clear on the Aseki-Menyamya coffee road

Locals shows coffee growing at Yakwe village past Menyamya station

Coffee buyer Paias Nii’s vehicle, loaded with 30 bags , of coffee bogged at Koiwa village near the junction of Aseki.-Pictures by BUSTIN ANZU

BY BUSTIN ANZU

Aseki and Menyamya areas of Morobe province are well-known for their high grade organic coffee, however, getting this to market is an absolute nightmare.

Aseki and Menyamya produce world-class organic coffee that is highly sought after.

Coffee is the leading cash crop in these areas.

Tonnes of coffee are produced in Aseki and Menyamya but getting them by road to Bulolo is beyond imagination.

In Lae, if you see four-wheel drive vehicles covered in mud, you would know that they have come from Aseki or Menyamya.

Coffee in these areas is grown high in the mountains and sold on the roadside to buyers who come from as far away as the Highlands provinces.

Menyamya and Aseki enjoyed their coffee sales through their own exporter Yha Hauka Kopi in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Yha Hauka Kopi Ltd coffee co-operative was founded in 1986 in order to help farmers market their coffee.

The co-operative worked to improve the livelihood of its members and other community members.

However, it ran into problems due to poor management, and the people of Aseki and Menyama suffered the consequences, coupled with deteriorating road conditions.

Over the last 10 years, road conditions have gone from bad to worse, with even four-wheel drives unable to pass through.

Menyamya MP, Benjamin Philip, has taken the challenge head on.

“The local MP Benjamin Philip had a lot of concern about deteriorating road conditions and purchased equipment with his electoral funds,” said project manager David Kaupa.

“The machines are now fixing up the entire problem stretch.

“What we are doing is making sure vehicles of any kind can travel up and down the Menyamya and Aseki roads.

“We want to get rid of the perception that Menyamya and Aseki roads are a disaster.”

Coffee buyer Paias Nii, from Mul Baiyer in Western Highlands, is glad that the nightmare is over.

“The road problem was a very serious issue for us coffee buyers,” he said.

“We used to spend nights camping along the road with bonfires.

“I’m glad that these problem areas have been cleared and I can drive through.”

Who wants to be a millionaire?

Caption: Mount Giluwe LLG councilor Sumba Wako showing his potato plot at his Pagapena village, Tambul.-Picture by BUSTIN ANZU

 

By BUSTIN ANZU

 

VEGETABLE farmers in Tambul, Western Highlands province, have every chance of becoming millionaires through farming.

If everyone there works the land, and if every effort is made by these people at the foot of the majestic Mt Giluwe – Papua New Guinea’s second highest peak – there is no reason why they cannot supply the whole country with fresh vegetables and make a lot of money in the process.

Tambul is a Garden of Eden for vegetable production.

It is the major producer of potato and temperate vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, capsicum, onion, radish and carrots in the country and the major supplier of the renowned Mt Hagen market. 

The dream of supplying PNG with vegetables can be achieved on the back of a recently-launched vegetable development project: ‘Developing a Sustainable Potato and Vegetable Production in the Tambul Valley – WHP’.

The project was launched at Alkena in Tambul last Nov 7 and will be spearheaded by the MKL Vegetable Farming Group.

The group is a newly-established community initiative involving farmers led by Maktol Oke, a specialist potato seed grower in the Upper Kaguel area of Tambul.

Mr Oke, who is also chairman of the MKL group, said the initiative was an “impact project” for the 68, 000 people of Tambul-Nebilyer aimed at enabling them to increase their potato and vegetable production for cash and food to improve their livelihoods.

He said the project received overwhelming support from Tambul-Nebilyer MP Benjamin Poponawa, Mt Giluwe local level government, district administration, Lutheran church, local leaders and farmers.

Mr Poponawa supported the project with K6, 000 while Western Highlands Governor Tom Olga chipped in with K20, 000.

National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI) and Fresh Produce Development Agency (FPDA) assisted with technical advice.

“The Alkena Lutheran Church provided vacant land which has been developed into a central resource centre for seed multiplication and distribution to farmers throughout the district, Western Highlands and other potato-growing areas in the country,” Mr Oke said.

“The centre will also be used for farmer training, demonstration and information sharing by service providers such as NARI, FPDA and the provincial division of primary industry.”

Mr Oke said potato was an important food crop for high-altitude areas like Tambul, which was making a comeback from the notorious Potato Late Blight Disease of 2003, and the project was anticipated to produce clean and certified seeds for farmers.

Helicopter view of Port Moresby

Helicopter view of Port Moresby city centre.-Picture courtesy of Datec PNG

Academic year commences at University of Goroka for 2010

A total of up to 800 new students from pre-service, in-service, post-graduate and overseas were officially welcomed to the University of Goroka today by the Vice Chancellor and other staff of the university.

 As part of the orientation programme, held before other universities in the country, students were warmly welcomed to the campus with the launching of a week-long programme of registration, course selection and other activities. 

The program commenced with a minute’s silence in honour of recently-departed staff member the late Rex Matang, followed by an opening prayer in which the year of study was dedicated to the Almighty Lord. 

 The National Anthem, National pledge and the UOG pledge were also part of the programme opening.

 After formally introducing staff to the new students Vice Chancellor Dr Gairo Onagi stated in his welcome speech that the university stood on a balance of spiritual and academic life. 

 Students were told that this should be their guide to life at UOG, and that support and the necessary skills to survive would be provided to them by the relevant staff. 

Dr Onagi also highlighted the fact that UOG is no longer just a teacher’s college, but offers other courses for study. 

Students were also reminded of their obligations whilst attending UOG as they are part of the university community. 

Dr Onagi also called on students to respect one another and to take responsibility for their actions, as they were representing their families, tribes, clans and provinces whilst at the university. 

Students were also reminded of the university’s zero tolerance policy to drugs and alcohol on campus. 

The purpose of the HIV/AIDS policy of UOG was also introduced to the students. 

Dr Onagi completed his message by telling the students that he looked forward to a “happy and prosperous year where we can work together”. 

 Staff of the university were then introduced to the students by their respective faculties and departments, along with explanations of their various roles on campus. 

A short speech was then given by the SRC vice-president to welcome all students and staff to UOG for the 2010 academic year.

 The program concluded with some comic entertainment which asked the students to focus on their studies and relayed the following message in the local Gahuku language: Motaka Okane – out of so many you are here! Tru Ave!

Wenge refuses to apologise to pilot Richard Leahy

By DAISY TANIOVA PAWA in The National

MOROBE Governor Luther Wenge has refused to apologise for his remarks against pilot Richard Leahy and said he does not regret having said them.
Mr Leahy was the pilot and owner of the Cessna 185 fixed wing aircraft that crashed on Dec 30 last year instantly killing a family of six passengers.
Mr Leahy miraculously survived the crash.
Mr Wenge, who is a relative of the victims, called for the deportation of Mr Leahy.
His comments were met by disgusted and angry readers who said the governor should withdraw his remarks as Mr Leahy had been providing a service which should have been provided by the government.
Mr Wenge said the public failed to understand the context of his outburst.
He said he had reacted in such a way because the accident could have been avoided.
He said the aircraft was old and never replaced and with the millions that Mr Leahy had been making he should have bought a new aircraft.
Mr Wenge said people’s lives were not marbles to play with, and, in the aircraft business, owners must go to all extremes to ensure that their aircrafts were safe for travel.
He has, however, expressed his gratitude to Mr Leahy for providing such a service when there was no other service provider.
Mr Wenge also refuted claims that he had promised to buy two aircrafts for the Kabwum districts.
He said he had never made such commitment and asked the people saying otherwise, to produce facts and figures suggesting he had.
Mr Wenge said in 2007 he had fought with the National Government to allocate K20 million for improvements of district roads.
He said up to last year K14 million has already been released to districts and the members of each district should take the initiative to improve and create road links between their districts