At a corner of North Goroka, in the capital of Eastern Highlands, a quiet agricultural revolution is taking place.
This is the home of the ‘China Juncao and Upland Rice Technology Project to PNG’ which is being run in collaboration with the Eastern Highlands Provincial Government.
Here, Chinese experts are carrying out work on Juncao Mushrooms, Upland Rice and an amazing grass with multiple uses known as ‘Lin Grass’.
The grass, which also enriches the soil, is used for mushroom propagation as well as feed for livestock including goats, sheep, cattle, horses, pigs, chicken and even fish.
The North Goroka base supplies mushrooms – which retail for up to K20 per kg at supermarkets - to Eastern Highlands farmers.
Upland Rice cultivation is already taking off in a big way in Goroka, Henganofi, Ungai-Bena, Daulo and Lufa districts of Eastern Highlands.
In May this year, a grand rice harvest officiated by Eastern Highlands’ Governor Peter Numu was held at Finintugu Village in Henganofi, where growers sold 148 bags of rice weighing 10.5 tonnes to the new Eastern Highlands Rice Co-operative.
The farmers then donated 1.5 tonnes of rice to the Chinese experts for distribution to other rice growers in Eastern Highlands.
This is the biggest rice project involving rural villagers in PNG and is very much in line with the vision of Prime Minister
for the country to be self-sufficient in rice production by 2025.
On Friday, September 11, 2020, I accompanied Agriculture and Livestock Secretary Daniel Kombuk and Livestock Development Corporation Managing-Director Terry Koim to the Juncao base in North Goroka.
I know Kaupa from my years in Goroka from 1998-2002, when my late wife and I were regular customers of his for fresh honey, as well as homemade soap and detergent for the house, and can vouch for their quality.
Despite being a Grade 10 dropout in 1984, Kaupa’s extensive use of the Goroka Public Library and the University of Goroka Library – through a lot of reading – helped him to start his honey and soap business.
Kaupa ran Jauka Honey, a small honey and soap-making set-up at Kama in Goroka, until business was affected by the bee mite in 2008.
In May 2005, he was named as best small business by the Small Business Development Corporation at the PNG Coffee Festival and Trade Fair and pocketed the K800 first prize.
Reading was the secret to the sweet success of his honey and soap-making business.
Kaupa, from Lapeigu village outside Goroka, completed his Grade 10 at Asaroka Lutheran High School in 1984 – with no offers for further education or employment.
In 1986, the disillusioned young man managed to secure a job with Lamana Wholesale in Goroka, a job he held until the company wound up in 1990.
He had a coffee plot at Lapeigu, and soon realised that he could have a sustained cash flow all year round, if he grew coffee and raised bees together.
Towards the end of 1996, the young beekeeper approached Benny Jauka, the owner of Gamesano Trading in Kama, for assistance to get the honey project off the ground.
Jauka Honey was distributed mainly in Goroka and Lae, where – through Rabtrad – was distributed by Andersons Foodland stores nationwide.
In August 1998, the innovative Kaupa ventured into soap production using bee wax.
It was trialed in the hauslains of Goroka by the people who mattered – mothers – and they gave it the thumbs up.
Thus was born the Nokorowa Soap.
The soap proved to be a big hit in Goroka, and was distributed throughout the highlands.
Towards the end of 1999, Kaupa ventured into yet another product, the Nokorowa Soap Powder.
The soap is ground up into fine powder, and then packed and sold as a grassroots alternative to the familiar Omo and Cold Power.
Nokorowa Soap Powder is now a familiar sight in the shops of Goroka.
Kaupa is a fervent believer in self-reliance and independence, and speaks out strongly against the handout mentality.
On September 12, 2020, while in Goroka, I visited his humble set-up at Kama and he showed me around.
Barclay Kaupa can be contacted on phones 75209847 and 75209847 and email kaupa.barclay48@gmail.com
Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has thanked all Members of Parliament for their overwhelming support towards the Organic Law on the Independent Commission against Corruption (ICAC).
He said this after Parliament voted 98-0 in favour of ICAC on Wednesday, with one more vote in the August session of Parliament before it becomes law.
Parliament voting for ICAC on Wednesday
Prime Minister Marape said he had promised the Nation on May 30, 2019, after taking office, that his Government would change laws for the betterment of the country going forward.
He said ICAC had been talked about since 1997 with little to no progress in making it become law.
“Things do not happen overnight without political will,” Prime Minister Marape said.
“The last Peter O’Neill-led Government progressed it to some level, but had no courage to put the finishing touches and carry it into Parliament.
“I thank all leaders and Attorney-Generals of the past, and public servants, of trying to progress ICAC but to no avail until today.
“Today, I thank all MPs including Hon. Dr Allan Marat and Hon. Joseph Lelang on the Opposition, the 15 People’s National Congress MPs, and 81 of us on the Government side who voted in support of the ICAC Bill.
“We have just two more months to go before this Bill is passed as Law.”
Prime Minister Marape stressed that corruption ate away scarce resources meant for development of the country.
“Corruption exists in a sinful world because none of us are perfect,” he said.
“This ICAC institution we are building will be a one-stop shop dealing with all matters pertaining to corruption.
“When operated with our recently-passed Whistle Blowers’ Act, Proceeds of Crime Act, Criminal Code Act and others we have, ICAC will become a beacon of hope in a nation so swamped with real and perceived corruption.
“Once set up, we will fill ICAC with qualified commissioners mostly recruited from overseas, so that we avoid local bias at the leadership level of this institution.”
Prime Minister Marape said the overwhelming support of ICAC should prove to his critics that “I don’t just talk, I can deliver too”.
“The life of our Government is not just about building infrastructure, but also putting in place policies and laws for the good of our country,” he said.
“Keep watching – my Government will be passing game-changing laws for our country such as this.
“ICAC law will save huge resources squandered and wasted through corruption.”
PRIME Minister Hon. James Marape yesterday announced that the country has recorded its second COVID-19 case.
The Prime Minister said the second case was a 40-year-old female from the East New Britain Province, who developed a cough on March 23 and was admitted to the Nonga Hospital isolation ward three days later and treated for severe respiratory illness.
The patient has been isolated and quarantined.
An additional two persons under investigation from Nonga have tested negative.
The Prime Minister said the COVID-19 Rapid Response Team was now working on contact tracing.
Everyone who has come into contact with the confirmed case will be immediately isolated and tested as well.
A team of medical experts id being deployed to ENB to deal with contact tracing, isolation and treatment.
The Prime Minister also announced that the Controller of the State of Emergency and Police Commissioner, David Manning, had made a decision to lock down the entire East New Britain Province for the next 21 days.
Commercial flights in and out of East New Britain are restricted.
Strict measures are being taken to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the East New Britain Province and the country as well.
The Prime Minister called upon people of PNG to remain calm and further asked for their support and understanding.
He said, “These measures may be seen as an inconvenience to you but they have been put in place to protect you and your family."
The Prime Minister said the Government was diligently working towards ensuring that its citizens were protected.
He also received reports that a Papua New Guinean had contracted the coronavirus in Laos.
He said contact tracing wa also being undertaken for this person as well.
Prime Minister Marape encouraged Papua New Guineans to continue to faithfully observe and practice health messages that had been given out.
“Wash your hands; do not touch your face; cough into your elbow; maintain physical distancing at all times and lastly please stay home,” Prime Minister Marape said.
This is to ensure we have an isolation strategy so that we can
pinpoint if the virus is present in our country after the first breach
of security.
Please click below to watch video
2. The first case
Has been transferred to Australia fit and well on Monday (March 23) morning and will undergo further medical tests. The results will be made known to the
country. 3. First case's impact assessment
We are doing steps retracing for the first case to ensure we have a map of
the impact (if any) so we can know correct statistics and put ins trategies to deal with the COVID-19.
4. State of Emergency conduct
- Provincial Governments through Provincial Administrators, will
coordinate with Provincial Health Authorities, Provincial Police
Commanders as lead agencies to handle awareness, and coordination of
prevention and treatment at the provincial level.
- No public travelling from district to district or province top rovince in country.
- All schools remain shut for 14 days, all-day students to stay at home and all boarding schools including universities and colleges are to maintain boarding of students but no classes are to be taught.
- Essential services will be maintained. That includes health services, public utilities, banks, shops, fuel stations, police and defence.
- All employers, including public services, should scale down workers in this period to ensure safe work place from the spread of Coronavirus.
- PNG Defence Force is on standby for call out to assist Police in this SOE period
and beyond.
- All spreading false rumours and organising public gatherings will be charged appropriately.
5. Economic Interventions
I had the pleasure of meeting with Central Bank, as well as all bank CEOs plus the two super funds, with the view that specific economic interventions be made for employees, individuals and business in our
country struggling as a result of this crisis we are in.
Conclusion
The COVID-19 has not killed one person yet in PNG. The only person who tested positive, after three tests, has left our country in a healthy state.
I ask our citizens not to panic.
Government will do everything
possible to stop from coming into PNG, stop from spreading, and stop from killing patients.
But in the first instance now, we want to map out our country within the
14 days to see which parts of our country ate attacked by the virus as a
matter of precaution.
Prime Minister Hon. James Marape today announced a 14-day lockdown starting Tuesday, March 24, to arrest spread of the coronavirus.
PM Marape at today's announcement
Please click below to watch video
"Today, based on advice from the COVID-19 National Operation Centre (NOC 19) and National Security Council (NSC) recommendations, the National Executive Council, in an emergency meeting, decided on the following measures in light of first positive case of COVID-19 in our country," he said.
" This is a national security issue now and not just a health issue, but a cross-cutting issue including effects on economy, law-and-order and education of our children, amongst other effects.
"So far, we have done trace of the person that came into our country, and he remains to date our only positive person who is in isolation and recovering.
"To clearly demarcate our country from spread and for Government to take stock from this bio(security breach, we are taking the following measures.
" 1. Confirm this first case and its impact to ensure we contain it, including treating, curing and sending the victim back to Australia.
" 2. Take stock of all entries into PNG after 7th of March to ensure all are checked, tested and status of health affirmed. All who have come in or those that have come in contact with those who came into PNG since 7th of March are to report to the hotline below.
"3. Declare a State-of-Emergency for 14 days starting on Tuesday, 24th March, in which the Commissioner of Police will assume control assisted by a callout placed on military to ensure lawful order, control and response to SOE control measures.
" 4. Following on our stop of incoming international flights, we are now stopping all domestic flights for the next 14 days starting on Tuesday this week.
" 5. We direct that as of Tuesday, 24th March, 2020, no public transportation of people and no movement from one province to another for a 14-day period. Only approved cargo and medicine and police /military personnel will be moving. It is a 14-day lockdown in our country wherever you are.
" 6. The Provincial Governors and their Provincial Administrators, with Provincial Police Commanders and respective Provincial Health Authorities, will be control points in all provinces.
" 7. All heads of departments and private companies are to embrace safe workplace practice and non-essential staff are asked to stay at home for the next 14 days.
" 8. Education and Higher Education departments are asked to advance first-term holiday as of tomorrow, 23rd March, and the next 14 days are to be school holidays.
" 9. All who have come into the country as from 7th March, 2020, or those who made contact with those who came into the country from that date, please report, call or text the hotline below.
" 10. No border crossing by foot or canoe and police /army presence in border areas will be stepped up.
" 11. Banks, financial institutions and super funds will be mobilised to work with Government on economic packages in this down time.
"12. The SOE Controller, through the Office of Prime Minister, will be the only official point of releasing statements to public.
" 13. The SOE Controller will issue details on how citizens and our country respond and behave in this time. Breach of these will be punished as offence in times of emergency.
" 14. ICCC will ensure prices of all goods are within lawful range.
"15. We are setting a multi-sector agency task force to report to the National Security Coordination Centre 24/7.
" 16. All foreign friends of PNG in our country: Your embassies and missions are available including our Foreign Affairs Department, to assist you in this time of lockdown.
" 17. All these will be reviewed after the 14 days, during which we would have mapped the presence of COVID-19 in our country.
" 18. PNG is a Christian country. We declare that Wednesday , 25th March, 2020, becomes a national day of fasting and prayer. For the next 21 days, prayer and fasting can continue for those who want to do it.
" We have now divided the country into zones to isolate this virus from spreading.
" 1. Mid PNG Zone from Morobe and Madang Provinces into the entire Highlands.
"2. Central Papua ( including NCD, Central and Gulf).
" 3. New Guinea Islands Zone.
"4. Sepik Zone.
" 5. Western Border Zone.
"6. Eastern Papua Zone.
" 7. Bougainville Zone.
"The SOE Controller will delegate the PPCs to police the zones to ensure compliance to these control measures.
" We will get through this phase.
"We ask for cooperation from all citizens, residents and businesses houses.
" Hotline toll free-number is 1800 200 and Bmobile 019, Digicel 71960813.
