Australia changing lives for the remote Ke-Witi community through farming
THE remote Ke-Witi community in the Western Highlands Province is a place of great natural beauty and cultural wealth but here the rough terrain and long distances are a daunting challenge to basic services such as education and health.
Now Australia through the Strongim Pipol Strongim Nesen (SPSN) program is helping the 5000 citizens of Ke-Witi to improve farming techniques and generate new income opportunities.
Ke-Witi is located at the foot of the rugged mountains of the Baiyer Valley, on the border of four provinces: Western Highlands, Enga, Madang and East Sepik and up to 5 hours from the provincial capital of Mt. Hagen. The road cuts across steep mountain ranges and winds its way along the treacherous gorges and cliffs of the Mul-Baiyer District.
Despite the challenging geographical setting, the soil is rich and fertile and Ke-Witi villagers grow enough for their own subsistence. Livestock such as chickens and pigs are left to run freely in the village and nearby forest.
Village Association chairperson Livai Kombati is a locally renowned didiman who holds a diploma in tropical agriculture and rural development and works as a vocational education trainer at the Dobel Agriculture College in Mt Hagen. He believes traditional farming methods are no longer good enough to ensure a reliable and profitable food supply. The K80, 000 grant from the SPSN program will provide local farmers with skills training on resources management and income generation opportunities, including better cropping methods and principles of animal husbandry, to improve food security and livelihoods. The establishment of a village association will help farmers to sell produce as a group to reduce costs and identify the best markets to sell surplus produce.
In Tokpisin he says:
“Dispela funding em bai mipela usim lo mekim capacity building na skills training long komuniti blo mipela. Mipela start long buildim ol haus blo pik, kakaruk, vegetable nursery na training senta we bai mipela lainim ol association members long agriculture training, sewing na givim save long general helt na nutrition we ol komuniti ken kisim skills na risos lo sustainim ol yet na kamapim gudpela sindaun blo ol. Dispela helivim i kam long AusAID ananit long SPSN em i meaningful stret lo mipela bikos em bai helpim long stretim ol mama, yut na man insait lo komuniti blo mipla na from the bottom of our hearts mipela i tok tenku bilong wanem mipla wanpela remote komuniti stret we, access long plenti samting em i hat liklik.“
(“This funding will be used to run capacity building and life skills training in our community. We have already commenced building a piggery and poultry house, vegetable nursery and a training centre where association members will be taught basic agriculture and sewing skills and educated on health and nutrition with the hope that they would use the skills, knowledge and resources provided through this project to sustain and improve their lives. This funding from AusAID through the SPSN program means a lot to us because we live in a very remote community with access to many basic services is usually a challenge. This funding will help strengthen and inspire the women, youth and men in this community to lead better lives, so from the bottom of our hearts, we want to say thank you.”)
The community is excited about the project. The Ke-Witi women have already planted rice so that seeds are readily available when the project starts implementation. In addition a training centre and kitchen (mainly made from local materials) is near completion. Linda Peter is a local woman involved in the project, speaking in Tokpisin she says:
Harry Gubala is the SPSN Field Program Coordinator - Highlands Region. He has been impressed with the level of enthusiasm and commitment for the project.
“The people of Ke-Witi are keen to develop their community with whatever potential and resources they have and the other exciting part is that AusAID is helping to build a team that is keen to create a better home for their families.”
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Ke-Witi was amongst seven community based organisations from the Western Highlands and Jiwaka to benefit from a total funding of K447, 900 from Australia, to support various community development projects in these two provinces. The Funding Deeds were signed on 11 April 2013.
The recipients in Western Highlands were:
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| Livai Kombati - Ke-witi Association chairman |
Now Australia through the Strongim Pipol Strongim Nesen (SPSN) program is helping the 5000 citizens of Ke-Witi to improve farming techniques and generate new income opportunities.
Ke-Witi is located at the foot of the rugged mountains of the Baiyer Valley, on the border of four provinces: Western Highlands, Enga, Madang and East Sepik and up to 5 hours from the provincial capital of Mt. Hagen. The road cuts across steep mountain ranges and winds its way along the treacherous gorges and cliffs of the Mul-Baiyer District.
Despite the challenging geographical setting, the soil is rich and fertile and Ke-Witi villagers grow enough for their own subsistence. Livestock such as chickens and pigs are left to run freely in the village and nearby forest.
Village Association chairperson Livai Kombati is a locally renowned didiman who holds a diploma in tropical agriculture and rural development and works as a vocational education trainer at the Dobel Agriculture College in Mt Hagen. He believes traditional farming methods are no longer good enough to ensure a reliable and profitable food supply. The K80, 000 grant from the SPSN program will provide local farmers with skills training on resources management and income generation opportunities, including better cropping methods and principles of animal husbandry, to improve food security and livelihoods. The establishment of a village association will help farmers to sell produce as a group to reduce costs and identify the best markets to sell surplus produce.
In Tokpisin he says:
“Dispela funding em bai mipela usim lo mekim capacity building na skills training long komuniti blo mipela. Mipela start long buildim ol haus blo pik, kakaruk, vegetable nursery na training senta we bai mipela lainim ol association members long agriculture training, sewing na givim save long general helt na nutrition we ol komuniti ken kisim skills na risos lo sustainim ol yet na kamapim gudpela sindaun blo ol. Dispela helivim i kam long AusAID ananit long SPSN em i meaningful stret lo mipela bikos em bai helpim long stretim ol mama, yut na man insait lo komuniti blo mipla na from the bottom of our hearts mipela i tok tenku bilong wanem mipla wanpela remote komuniti stret we, access long plenti samting em i hat liklik.“
(“This funding will be used to run capacity building and life skills training in our community. We have already commenced building a piggery and poultry house, vegetable nursery and a training centre where association members will be taught basic agriculture and sewing skills and educated on health and nutrition with the hope that they would use the skills, knowledge and resources provided through this project to sustain and improve their lives. This funding from AusAID through the SPSN program means a lot to us because we live in a very remote community with access to many basic services is usually a challenge. This funding will help strengthen and inspire the women, youth and men in this community to lead better lives, so from the bottom of our hearts, we want to say thank you.”)
The community is excited about the project. The Ke-Witi women have already planted rice so that seeds are readily available when the project starts implementation. In addition a training centre and kitchen (mainly made from local materials) is near completion. Linda Peter is a local woman involved in the project, speaking in Tokpisin she says:
“Dispela training em mipela ol meri nidim stret bikos mipela inap lo lainim long lukautim pik, samapim kolos na planim rice. Mi no save long dispela na em first taim blo me na mi igat bikpela hamamas, na lewa blo mi i stap wantaim yupela ol pipol blo Australia.”
(“The women (in Kewiti) really need this training, we want to be able to learn how to look after pigs (in animal husbandry), sew clothes and plant rice, skills which many of us have no idea of. This training will be the first and an eye-opener for many of us so we are really excited. All I can say is that my heart is with the people of Australia for making this possible.”)
Harry Gubala is the SPSN Field Program Coordinator - Highlands Region. He has been impressed with the level of enthusiasm and commitment for the project.
“The people of Ke-Witi are keen to develop their community with whatever potential and resources they have and the other exciting part is that AusAID is helping to build a team that is keen to create a better home for their families.”
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| Women from Ke-witi in rice fields |
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Ke-Witi was amongst seven community based organisations from the Western Highlands and Jiwaka to benefit from a total funding of K447, 900 from Australia, to support various community development projects in these two provinces. The Funding Deeds were signed on 11 April 2013.
The recipients in Western Highlands were:
- Airport Women Association from the Hagen Central District received K71, 266 for a resource centre.
- Koma Pang Community Based Association in Tumbul-Nebilyer District received K70, 848 for a permanent double elementary school classroom.
- Kopi Women's Welfare and Development Association received K53, 591 for a resource centre that will support their Micro-finance projects for women in the Hagen Central District.
- Teka Lutheran Adult Literacy School received K75, 982 for a new double classroom that will hold adult literacy classes in the Dei District.
The farmers in the photo are very enthusiastic in the fields with unity. Great work!!
ReplyDeleteIts good people are still keen to grow their own rice . Do contact this person on this email address to help you with additional improved upland rice farming practices;
ReplyDelete< dmegumi.DM@gmail.com