The East New Britain Provincial Government is committed to assisting local farmers to venture into integrated skilled farming by investing in skills and financial training through the model farm concept.
Model farm concept
The model farm concept, under ENB Fresh Produce Ltd, a subsidiary company of the ENB Provincial Market Authority (ENBPMA), is the first of its kind in the country.
It aims to develop farmers and help them become self-sustainable by growing vegetables and raising animals for market, and for domestic consumption.
ENB Market Authority Resource Officer Gitala Pranis is working with ENB Fresh Produce Officer Mio Kila to ensure the successful operation of the model farm.
Working in partnership with other agencies like FPDA, and Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL), Mr. Pranis said it was a win-win situation for all agriculture development partners in the province.
Integrated farming
A model farm has been set up at Ramale village outside Kokopo to allow interested farmers to learn more about modern integrated farming.
“We are trying to do integrated farming and move away from the usual concepts and procedures of farming. As agriculture educators and promoters, we have not done enough to help our rural population to be self-sustaining, moving away from some traditional farming methods,” he said.
Mr. Pranis said many agriculturalists quickly tend to become consultants with papers and there was no actual work on the ground resulting in 80 per cent of the rural population missing out on basic agriculture knowledge.
“Our educated agriculture graduates are chasing after money and their knowledge is going to waste,” he said.
The ENB Market Authority is now working with the rural community to promote agriculture that is simple and adaptable to the people, he said.
The Ramele Model Farm contains fish ponds, ducks, chicken, pigs, and goats. In addition, crops such as round cabbage, lettuce, Chinese cabbage, pakchoi, bulb onion, and rice are all being trialed at the farm.
The model farm is also collecting organic waste from the Kokopo main markets and bringing them to Ramale model farm to feed animals as well as provide manure for the soil. This rubbish recycling process is done to assist other farmers who require manure for their farms.
Model farm taking shape
The model farm is yet to be officially opened and has been taking shape with casual workers under the supervision of agriculturalist Mio Kila who manages the fresh produce section.
Kila said it has been a tough journey for his boys, clearing the forest and planting different crops but the farm was now being prepared for the opening later this year.
Kila said the model farm was in the process of getting bulb onion seedlings to plant for the first time in order to educate and assist interested farmers to grow the crop.
The ENB Market Authority also orders seeds directly from New Zealand based seed company Terranova, in order to assist farmers who need seedlings for their farms.
FPDA Kokopo office has been working in partnership with the ENB Market authority since its inception.
** ENB Provincial Market Authority Facebook page
** Department of Agriculture and Livestock website