Leaving formal employment to become a farmer was not an easy decision to make, especially for someone with a young family support, but Isirel Erick says that it was something he had always wanted to do.
Erick, from Kokoda in the Oro Province and Matupit, East New Britain, said that after attending Human Resource Training at ITI College in Port Moresby and searching for jobs in the city he went back to Kokopo where he landed a job at a local ICT company.
Erick says he always wanted to do farming but did not have the skills and training needed. He planted pakchoi and aibika simply for the love of gardening and made his first big harvest in 2017, which he then donated to his church other contacts.
When Fresh Produce Development Agency Kokopo office took him in under the Village Extension Worker (VEW) program in 2018, Erick admits that this was the moment he was waiting for.
“After attending the FPDA’s VEW program, I made three major harvests of pakchoi and sold at the Kokopo main market. After that induction, I learnt a lot and I am always looking forward to learning new things,” he said.
“Gardening is a business. When I see my crops maturing, I am already seeing money,” Erick said of his vegetable farm in East New Britain Province.
After the recent heavy rains, he almost gave up on the farm but following advice from FPDA’s Senior Extension Advisor Elizabeth Melchior, Erick started planting peanut while waiting for the wet weather to subside.
This has worked perfectly for Erick and he was inspired to share his story when Fresh Produce News visited his farm recently.
“During the last induction a few weeks back, I was paid a K200 allowance by FPDA. I wanted to trial Bulb Onion and carrot so I used that money to buy seedlings. This year will be my first time to trial bulb onion,” he proudly said.
Erick is a determined young man with dreams for the future. He plans to expand his farm, knowing that his crops will deliver results for him and his family.
“I tell my boys who come and help me in my farm that this is how things happen. I am not going to waste any time and at the same time I am my own boss. Because I don’t waste time, I know I will get what I want through hard work,” he said.
Erick said he was very grateful that FPDA has assisted him with farm skills, seedlings, chemicals, training and knowledge he will treasure in his career as a modern farmer.
Elizabeth said Erick was always cheerful and shows a lot of interest in his work and he was a fine example for young educated farmers who switch from paid jobs to farming as a career.