The magic of Viriolo

Ilamo Velekiri watches over smoked warimu (long tom)

Tail of a dugong

Vevao Kula of Kelekins, a beach hamlet between Viriolo and Lalaura villages, butchering a dugong caught in a passage on a reef near the Abau lighthouse

Willie Lakoro and mother Ravu Ila prepare fish for transportation into town for sale

By DAVID NALU

Fishing nets, floaters, snorkeling flippers and mask hung out to dry, dinghies and canoes afloat under huge houses with large kitchens and verandas built on tall, crooked mangrove stilts over the sea, and the laughter of swimming children is a typical sight in the fishing village of Viriolo.

Virolo is located at Cape Rodney, a five-hour drive down the Magi Highway, southeast of Port Moresby. It is the second last village on the Aroma coast but the last of the Hula dialect speakers. The inhabitants are descendants of migrants of who originally came from Alukini in the Hood Lagoon.

Having a long tradition of being nomadic seaman, they struck an ancient pact several generations back to settle in amongst the Aroma people of Kapari to solidify a bartering system where seafood could be easily exchanged for garden produce, a relationship that still exist to this day.

The village is a cluster of houses built on mangrove stilts located at the mouth of an estuary,with a tidal plain that is completely flooded in several metres deep of seawater during high tide and exposes several kilometres of sand and shallow waters when the tide recedes, serving as a playfield for cricket and rugby. Sports activities are scheduled around the times when the tide has receded.

The people are peaceful, harmonious and definitely happy, practicing an evolving culture steeply entwined and shaped by the United Church which has roots back to the London Missionary Society. This has set the foundations for a solid social fabric that promotes discipline, respect and social order that has been able to well withstand the onslaught of external influences and change

All daily social activities revolve around song, dance and church. Whether it is melodious voices and sounds of Ukeles and Guitars in the typical Aroma Coast tunes that fill the early evenings as young people gather to socialise or the sounds of the peroveta (prophet songs) as elders meet for daily prayers in the early mornings and evenings.

Given that the people’s whole livelihood depends on the sea, they are seasoned seafarers whose quest to fish the oceans sees no boundaries. A regular fishing trip will easily last two days involving two to three dinghies with six to10 divers venturing onto offshore reefs as far as the waters off Milne Bay and deep into the Coral Sea in search of all that is edible and sellable that the sea can offer.

The village rises early at 4 or 5 am when wives, sisters, mothers warm the fires and prepare tea and food for the returning fishermen. Reef fish, turtles, dugongs are regularly brought back and smoked and prepared for sale in the local markets or in town. A simple ritual is always observed where only fishermen will unload and distribute the catch for consumption and sale.

Wives and sisters are dispatched to take the catch by PMV into Port Moresby to sell and bring back food supplies of rice, flour, sugar, tea, salt, tobacco and fuel.

The people are oblivious to occurrences of the in the outside world, with their only care being their daily existence and happiness. Sharing of all catches ensures that all members of the village community are cared for.

Their ancient values retained from a nomadic tradition is the cohesive force that ensures the survival of this fishing community is refreshing, and a stark contrast to the individualist crusade that westernisation promotes but also a constant reminder of our Melanesian heritage and of the identity crisis suffered by the masses within the turbulence of rapid change and western influences.

Pictures of Viriolo village, Central province

All pictures by DAVID NALU

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