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People making a difference
Habina villagers in remote Eastern Highlands province launch an association to protect their natural resources. MARLENE SAMAR reports.

If you lived miles away from the nearest market and basic services, would you find a way to make life easier for yourself?
Well, that is exactly what the people of Habina village in the Obura-Wonenara district of Eastern Highlands province decided to do.
Habina village, referred to as the 'back page' of this district, as the locals say, is a mountain's climb from Mutzing in the Markham valley of Morobe province.
This community who have long since lost faith in the Government services delivery mechanism, resolved to use their initiative to bring development to their remote village.
I recently visited the village to witness the launching of the Piora Organic Farmer's Association (POFA) on November 1 last year.
This association an initiative of the people was established to protect their natural resources.
Before I set off by road to Ward 22-Habina village I was told by a very concerned workmate, Gend Bagle, that people usually travelled there by small aircraft; the roads are narrow and people carry cars over the mud because they cannot get through and the drive would be a lengthy five to six hours if the roads were good.
Well, I thought, this place must be well worth a visit. It sure was.
While there I saw for myself the resilience of the people to look beyond their limitations and utilise the potential within themselves and in their surroundings.
This determination resulted in the establishment of the Association.
Association chairman, Paul Navenda said the idea to form an organic farmers association came about because the community realised the need to protect their resources from exploitation and preserve it for future generations.
He said another reason was the fact that their crops are grown without using fertilizer.
POFA aims to secure better market prices for coffee from Habina, which is organic.
Mr Navenda said complications with middle men in their coffee sales left the villagers with a poor cut of earnings.
By forming POFA, Mr Navenda said they aim to liaise directly with buyers and sell their coffee at the best price possible.
He said money earned would go back into helping the community to assist with paying school fees, which is a major problem for many parents.
He said they would secure the coffee market first and later move into securing markets for other food crops like sweet potato, fruits and vegetables.
Mr Navenda said there is an abundance of food in Habina, but transporting these goods to markets in the main township of Kainantu is a major problem because of poor road conditions and high transportation costs.
Air travel to Kainantu is K120 per person one way, land transport is K25. Many farmers are unable to afford this plus additional freight costs.
So most of what they produce is for their own consumption, they try to sell their surplus at the local market but a lot is left to waste and rot and is thrown away.
The launching of POFA has brought renewed hope to the community of almost 1000 people.
They have assurance that there is a formal and recognised organisation which will try to secure better deals for them in getting their produce to outside markets.
The Association is also working closely with organisations like the National Agricultural Research Institute's (NARI) Aiyura office for technical assistance to help farmers improve their crop management practises.
Village councillor Duobe Kiambu, also a pastor, said he was very pleased with the launching of the association,
Kiambu said, "Sevis bilong gavman i kam liklik tasol mipela i tok maski long lukluk long gavman, yumi sanap wantaim long hauslain, yumi wet longpela taim long gavman, maski, mipela traim best long sevim yumi yet." (There are very little government services coming our way, so we have to stop looking to the government and stand together in this village and try our best to serve ourselves)
The Association membership comprises farmers from Habina village, four villages from the Wonenara side of the district, three villages from the Obura side and nine villages from nearby Markham.
To register members either paid a fee of K50 or with 50 kg bag of coffee.
The launching of POFA signified, among other things, an opening to progress and future development for the farmers and the agricultural industry as a whole.
Guests at the launch included officials from the Obura-Wonenara district office, MP John Koigiri, NARI and Coffee Industry Corporation officers, and, Eastern Highlands provincial assembly women's representative Julie Soso Akeke.
The main message emphasised by speakers was that these days the government and other agencies were interested in helping communities who are organising themselves.
And groups such as POFA is an example of a community taking the first step to help themselves.
Only then will other agencies come in to assist with technical support and advice.
People should do away with the hand out mentality and change their mindset to try and help themselves, Mr Kiambu said.
Because at the end of the day it is people that build a nation, not governments.