Agriculture Hub, Backyard Farming and Rice Farming Project
Food security is a critical issue in Bougainville, and is continually growing in importance in Hako owing to the rapidly increasing population, limited land for growing food, soil depletion resulting from traditional farming methods and the impacts of climate change. HWC has launched an exciting new project to help vulnerable families to diversify their farming and learn new techniques to increase production.
The project consists of Agriculture Hub, Backyard Farming and Rice Farming. HWC in collaboration with PiCCA have been awarded a ‘Community Friendship Grant’ from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) for the project. DFAT is contributing $A35,000; PiCCA will contribute $A2,300 in cash (from earmarked donations) and $A4,700 of in-kind support to the project.
The funds will help establish a demonstration garden (nursery) and gardens for program participants. Training will be provided for participants to diversify and increase their crop yields, and earn income from surplus food. Some of the training will be run out of the community centre Luman Hipakoko.
The first groups to benefit from the training will be families who are caring for someone with a disability, households headed by women and young vulnerable people. In future years HWC will charge participants a modest fee, to make the program sustainable.
Plans have been completed for a simple shed to house a rice mill and generator; the building of demonstration gardens has started and the first compost heap is composting.
The project consists of Agriculture Hub, Backyard Farming and Rice Farming. HWC in collaboration with PiCCA have been awarded a ‘Community Friendship Grant’ from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) for the project. DFAT is contributing $A35,000; PiCCA will contribute $A2,300 in cash (from earmarked donations) and $A4,700 of in-kind support to the project.
The funds will help establish a demonstration garden (nursery) and gardens for program participants. Training will be provided for participants to diversify and increase their crop yields, and earn income from surplus food. Some of the training will be run out of the community centre Luman Hipakoko.
The first groups to benefit from the training will be families who are caring for someone with a disability, households headed by women and young vulnerable people. In future years HWC will charge participants a modest fee, to make the program sustainable.
Plans have been completed for a simple shed to house a rice mill and generator; the building of demonstration gardens has started and the first compost heap is composting.
Officers from the PNG Department of Primary Industry have begun training 90 farmer families in 3 groups. Training includes 30 people with disabilities, 30 youth and 30 vulnerable women.
Participants receive:
Participants receive:
- 3 days Family Farm Team Training,
- 2 days Rice Farming, and
- 3 Days in Backyard Farming with composting, soil conservation & renewal, pest management, nutrition etc.
