Sweet potato pilot project successful

THE pathogen-tested sweet potatoes (kaukau) have succeeded in a pilot project conducted by the Porgera branch of Women in Business.
They harvested the farm produce on August 3 at the Women in Business garden in Aumbi, Porgera.
President Elizabeth Iarume said taro did not grow well, possibly because of the altitude.
The outcome of the pilot project was confirmed by Barrick (Niugini) Limited senior adviser for community development Regina Toropo.
The kaukau planting materials took seven months to grow.
BNL bought the cuttings from the National Agriculture Research Institute at Tambul, Western Highlands.
The WiB group was given 350 cuttings.
Toropo said the need for kaukau in the area was discovered in 2015 during a sweet potato silage training, conducted by Nari.
“So we liaised with Nari to get some varieties of sweet potato. Now we are in this harvesting of kaukau planted last December,” she said.
“The harvested kaukau and cuttings were distributed to the 32-member group.”
Porgera WiB treasurer Leah Paraia said the group planned to train other women.
“We are working in our small areas but it would be good if we had a field-day staged outside so we can display such produce,” Paraia  said.