Climate change worrying farmers in Morobe

Climate change is affecting soil fertility and fresh food production, according to farmers at Wau in Morobe.
Two real-life cases are those of tomato grower Joseph Michael at Maus Kuranga, and potato farmer Bin Bingidin at Biawen II.
Michael said wilt was affecting his tomatoes.
“This soil virus will last about 10-15 years, despite the rotation of soil,” he said.
“The withering of tomatoes is similar to potatoes.”
Michael harvests his tomatoes after eight weeks.
It’s a lucrative business for him.
“Beef steak tomato is on high demand,” Michael said.
“Quality is determined by crop cycle and soil fertility.
“There is no wilt-resistant tomato variety.
“ Best farm management practice is the only solution.”
Similarly, Bingidin is concerned about withering of his potatoes, regardless of him using pesticides.
Fresh Produce Development Agency (FPDA) value chain and innovation manager Noel Kuman said most farmers could not avoid the negative impacts of climate change.
He said the FPDA was very mindful of this and they have devised some simple climate change adaptation techniques to help farmers.
Kuman said these included irrigation systems, crop varieties, and daily crop and farm management methods to ensure farmers received 80 per cent of the expected outcome.
The FPA encourages growing of 62 crop varieties.