Role of Agriculture on the Kokoda Track

It is disappointing to see that some tour companies operating along the Kokoda Track are threatening to buy no food or drink from any of the villagers for whom the trail is both home and means of livelihood. This seems to be because of a number of reported cases of food poisoning, which has required several trekkers to be lifted out of their trek. While food poisoning is of course a very serious and unpleasant matter, one can but wonder what the source of the contamination may have been, and whether food supplied by the villagers is truly to blame, as against tinned food from Port Moresby supermarkets, for example.

I have recently been a member of a team put together by the Kokoda track Foundation, which visited several villages along the trail with a view to exploring small business opportunities for the villagers. Most of the opportunities available to local people revolve around the growing, preparation and selling of food.

Agriculture is an activity village communities understand, and with tourism, can deliver a quick monetary return. It is the most promising way for many, especially the women and youth, to learn about small business, earn cash and thus improve their status in their communities.

Trekkers seldom consider the impact their activities have on those whose lands they cross. For a start, peak trekking season coincides with The traditional gardening cycle, which requires heavy labour inputs from young men from perhaps June right through to October; all high tourist season months. Such labour is now in high demand carrying for tourists, so fewer gardens get properly made, and less food is produced. But in fact much more food is needed as trekker numbers increase. This is not a good sign for the future, as it places considerable and growing stress on the track communities.

We still have a very poor understanding of how the villagers who live along the track view these very rapid changes, how they are affected by them, and what is happening to them in their daily lives. This is not something that can be dealt with by means of a needs survey. Time must be spent building trust, then much more time must be spent listening, to all groups of the community.

In our survey relating to business oportunities referred to above, people suggested many very practical options, for which they will need context-sensitive help. When problems arise, such as food poisoning, it is necessary to explore this carefully with all the people concerned. We need to help villagers develop the confidence to find ways which will allow them to provide a food surplus for themselves so they may engage economically with trekkers. Opportunities which bring cash into the village economy in ways which build (not destroy) the community (experience has shown increasing the income of women tends to do this), are needed. New systems of village governance which can deal with the real issues brought about by change will arise in confident communities. When we are trusted, they will tell us how to go forward with them.

I feel strongly that a carefully planned agricultural intervention which involves the villagers as the drivers of the program can deliver all of this. I'm not sure what else can.

 

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