40,000 Suckers and Tubers Distributed!

The Kokoda Track Foundation’s Northern Province Food Restoration Program (NPFRP) is in full swing with 40,000 plant varieties having been distributed to communities throughout the Northern Province. A combination of suckers, tubers, cuttings, cobs, pods, seeds, and bunches from vital strains of vegetables and fruits have been distributed this year to communities that can be accessed by land.

In 2007, Cyclone Guba devastated the majority of the Northern Province, washing away schools, health centres, bridges, roads, and most importantly village food gardens. The Foundation responded to the crisis with a national appeal, raising $200,000 for the people of the Northern Province. After the urgent medical and equipment needs were responded to, the Foundation committed funds from the appeal to establish the Northern Province Food Restoration Program (NPFRP). Our first phase of funding was used to establish three mother seed multiplication nurseries in the Northern Province – one at Dobodura, one at Ilimo, and one at Martyrs Memorial College. 

Since then, the three mother seed nurseries have had varieties of taro, sweet potato, cassava, corn, beans, aibika, and watermelon planted, multiplied, and distributed to 29 satellite nurseries being established throughout the Province. A total of 40,000 suckers and tubers have been distributed already this year and the local communities are using them to restart their household food gardens.

As well as the distribution of suckers and tubers, the three mother nurseries are providing training to villagers, especially local women’s groups, in how to plant and multiply the new strains of agriculture. Ongoing training has now been provided to 471 people throughout the Province with training focusing on planting and multiplication, taro beetle treatment, and organic farming.

In 2010, the Foundation will continue to fund the NPFRP as is moves into the next phase of distribution. In 2009, all distribution efforts have been directed at communities that can be accessed by road. There are however numerous remote and isolated villages that can only be accessed by sea, which are still in desperate need of the varieties of agriculture being produced at our mother nurseries. In 2010, the Foundation’s team in Popondetta will distribute suckers and tubers to these communities – who were often the ones worst hit by the cyclone.

The Foundation would like to congratulate the NPFRP team in Popondetta and all of the community members who volunteered their time and energy to making this project a real success. We would also like to acknowledge and thank our partners who have assisted with the nurseries and distribution of the crops, including the National Agriculture Research Institute, the Department of Agriculture and Livestock, and the Anglican Response to the Oro Disaster.

The Foundation will continue to provide support for the distribution to villages only accessed by sea in 2010. If you would like any further information on the project, or details on how you can support the seed nurseries, please contact Gen Nelson on gen.nelson@kokodatrackfoundation.org or +61 412 869 210.

A huge thanks to all who contributed to the NPFRP via our Kokoda Cyclone Appeal!

 

Content © The Kokoda Track Foundation 2009   |   Email : gen.nelson@kokodatrackfoundation.org for more information