WNB farmers make first rice harvests
The National, Copyright 2000
December 1, 2000
VILLAGE farmers in Pomio are excited about the recent discovery of the potential of rice growing in the area.
Farmers in the West Pomio-Mamusi LLG want the other village farmers in Pomio district to know that the area is good for rice farming.
The farmers claimed that despite talks of the area not suitable for rice farming, the West Pomio-Mamusi farmers have proven that rice can be grown in the area without any difficulties.
The farmers have planned to organise visits to some of the local farms that have already harvested rice.
Last month a group of DPI officers from the Pomio-Mamusi area made a one-tonne harvest of home grown rice which was brought to Vunadidir for display to the public.
DPI officer-in-charge in West Pomio-Mamusi, Apolinarius Duamuga, told 'ENB in Focus' that the farmers are very excited about the project and would first produce rice for their own consumption and then would pursue commercial farming.
He said rice farming in Pomio, in the past was never regarded as a viable venture because of the discouraging attitudes being shown by previous officers.
"Today, after seeing the fruit of their own hard work, patience and determination to make something happen, the people themselves believe they have proven their many critics wrong. Rice, after all can be grown in Pomio."
"The farmers themselves are positive about this and they are prepared to testify to it if any critics want to prove it themselves," Mr Duamuga said.
Rice farming in the West Pomio-Mamusi LLG was an initiative kick-started by DPI officer and LLG President, Dominic Kananaelu late in 1998.
The project did not get off the ground well until the LLG pumped in about K10, 000 to have it started initially.
OISCA, a Japanese run farmer's school in Kokopo came into the scene by providing about 14 kilograms of rice seedlings. The seedlings were only meant for experimental purposes, but as it turned out. The people received it at the right time.
"The Japanese experts at OISCA had so much trust in us in Pomio. They wanted the best for us and despite the fact that no proper soil tests were carried out, somehow they knew we would harvest top quality rice in the end. That's exactly what we have done and we are pleased," Mr Duamuga said.
DPI and West Pomio-Mamusi LLG's next course of action is to continue encouring more farmers in the area to go into rice growing.
At the moment rice can only be grown for local consumption.
However, as soon as the project reaches commercial proportion, rice will undoubtedly become one of the main agriculture commodities in the Pomio District. It could even become another staple food besides yam, taro and kaukau. Providing a rice mill is also a long-term projection which the LLG and DPI want to address.