ENB farmers harvest four tonnes of rice through project

ABOUT four tonnes of rice have been harvested by 350 farmers in Gaulim zone two in the Inland Baining local level government of Gazelle, East New Britain.
The farmers started to harvest the rice last week and will continue this week.
The rice was kept at their ward member’s house while they wait for a rice milling machine.
Gaulim ward member Hosea Kaelam said the project came about because of the New Zealand volunteer services aboard (VSA) partnership with Organisation for Industrial Spiritual and Cultural Advancement (Oisca) which supported the rice farmers.
They bought and distributed rice seedlings to the farmers last September.
“From an estimation, we will be harvesting four tonnes of rice,” Kaelam said.
“However, we need a market and a machine to mill the rice.”
Gaulim women’s representative Luamin Eremas said the rice farming project would benefit most women in their community.
“We can sell the rice and also save some for composition,” Eremas said.