Smarter farming supports young people in PNG

By Jacklyn Yala, Communications Coordinator, Disaster READY Country Committee, PNG

With support from Plan International via the Australian Government’s Disaster READY program, smart farming techniques are being rolled out in remote communities in Bougainville, PNG, leading to increased food security and income-generating opportunities. IMAGE: Jacklyn Yala/CARE International

Taiof and Saposa Islands are located on the west coast of the Island of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea. These islands are situated on coral reefs, making gardening difficult for the residents. As a result, they rely on food crops from mainland gardens, which they access by paddling through rafters for about 30 minutes each way. Food security is a growing concern for the people on the islands, especially during high tides and strong waves when they may go without food due to limited access to the mainland. Rising sea levels, attributed to climate change, pose an additional challenge for these islands, which lack knowledge on disaster preparedness methods.

Through the Australian Humanitarian Partnership’s Disaster READY program, Plan International is conducting training to empower youth and families on the islands in smart farming methods and disaster preparedness skills. Levi Kariup, a youth leader on Saposa Island, was one of the first participants to undergo this training. After completing the program, Levi returned to mobilise other youths and train them in these methods. More young people were engaged in farming to generate income for their families and address the growing need for food security on the islands. Islanders were encouraged to plant backyard crops using atoll farming to address their various challenges. Levi advocated for backyard farming, as many families on the island typically garden on the mainland but face difficulties during heavy rains, high tides, and strong waves. By adopting backyard farming, the islanders could address food shortages. The community has begun cultivating crops such as taro, bananas, and vegetables that they had not previously grown.

Following the training, 24-year-old Reginald displays the ‘Atoll Farming Method’. IMAGE: Jacklyn Yala/CARE International

Reginald (pictured above) a 24-year-old from Taiof Island, attended Plan International’s training on agriculture, smart farming, and disaster preparedness. Reginald had a passion for working with youth to better care for the community. Inspired by the training, he began practicing atoll farming in his family's yard by cracking the reefs, burying compost, and covering it with soil before planting taro nurseries. Reginald became the first young man on the island to lead the way in implementing atoll farming methods. He believes that atoll farming can benefit families on the island and improve food security, as well as provide opportunities for earning income. He emphasized that the knowledge and skills gained from the training can benefit the island and reduce food security risks, ultimately relieving the burden on mothers to search for food on the mainland during disasters.

Cynthia proudly shows how she has grown sweet potatoes in bags, a technique she learned during the training organised by Plan International. IMAGE: Jacklyn Yala/CARE International

Cynthia, a 22-year-old youth from Saposa Island, also attended the training. She learned about atoll farming, pesticide use, and nursery techniques for sweet potatoes, bananas, taro, and vegetables, as well as homemade pesticides using papaya and chilies. After the training, Cynthia applied what she had learned by setting up nurseries for taro, sweet potatoes, and vegetables, and replanting them in atoll compost and backyard gardens. Despite encountering challenges with animals like pigs destroying her crops, Cynthia found success by planting sweet potato vines in bags, which grew well and were ready for harvest. Thanks to her efforts, Cynthia's family now has food security during high tides and strong winds on the island.

Plan International continues to implement the AHP Disaster READY Program, on selected islands in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, focusing on food processing, preservation, and disaster preparedness.