Another agro show in Chimbu?

THE Chimbu plant show is unique but the organisers lack capacity and vision.
It is obvious that the organisers are more focused on raising money rather than promote the show and showcase some of the province’s unique plant species. 
The show last year at the Dickson oval was a failure because most of the participants were not genuine botanists or plant-collectors.
When the plant show was first introduced in 2008 at the Kundiawa Lutheran High School, 97% of the participants were genuine local botanists who displayed a variety of plant species that were collected over the last 10 to 15 years. 
The show was awesome with some very rare and near extinct species of flora from as far north as Mt Wilhelm and as far east as Siane and Nambayufa being exhibited. 
Some even came as far as West Kambia and Jimi in the Western Highlands. 
They brought their plants to the show out of sheer passion.
And it was a success with donations coming from the local MPs and provincial administration.
Chimbu Governor Fr John Garia was among the high profile personalities who attended including MPs such as Lucas Dekena and Joe Mek Teine.
However, at the end of the show, botanists were left high and dry by the organisers, who were instead more interested in looking after the guests and others. 
The botanists and exhibitors were forced to sleep under the tables where their plans were exhibited.
The organisers also failed to arrange for transport to send them home, forcing many of them to borrow money.
However, many PMV drivers were sympathetic and assisted them back to their respective villages.
Such vivid experience cannot be easily erased for these simple but dedicated botanists.
Last year’s show saw a big turnout, but this time, the genuine plant-collectors gave it a miss.
The show turned out to be more of an agricultural show instead of a botanic plant show.
Word is circulating in the small four-corner town that the show will be on again this year. 
This time, the organisers are calling it the “Botanical plant show 2010”.
The big question is will the neglected botanists of the “2008 plant show” participate?
Without their participation, the show will probably end up just like last year – an agricultural event.

Kakipi Kora Monea
Via email