Change in harvest season benefits pandanus farmers

THE once seasonal pandanus nut has become a year-round crop according to vendors in Goroka, Eastern Highlands.
Regular sellers Solake Dickson from Kamex village and Joylene Albert from Kaveve village both in Goroka said that pandanus (karuka) has now become an all-year crop.
They said it was usually ready for harvest from February to June.
The pair believed the change in the harvest season was because of the change in climate.
However, villagers were benefiting by having a crop they could sell throughout the year.
Dickson said she gathered the nuts from her family’s pandanus garden.
“Today pandanus nut season is unlike coffee season that falls in from April to early July,” Dickson said.
“It is now all year and allows me to sell them and make money.”
After harvesting, the karuka is either roasted over the fire or boiled.
The women can take up to five loads of nuts to the market.
When there were more – up to 10 – they would recruit their husbands and other male relatives to help.
They sell the pandanus nuts from 50t to K2 for the small pieces while half a bunch sells from K10 to K15 depending on the size.
A whole pandanus bunch is sold for K20.