ENTERPRISE

New initiative revives Karawap

By JAMES G KILA
A REMARKABLE achievement and a good story to tell has emerged from out of the West Coast area of Wewak district in East Sepik.
The story is that a run-down coconut plantation which stopped production in 1987 has strived against odds and after over 30 years being in the doldrums has eventually begun producing white copra, which is highly sought after in the international market.
This interesting development is a result of a determined efforts and sacrifices by a local landowner company called Karawap Development Corporation (KDC).
According to Kokona Indastri Korporese (Kik) the plantation which was owned by the Catholic Church stopped its commercial copra production in late 1987. Consequently, one all of the coconut stands are senile and the whole plantation was overgrown with shrubs, trees and regrowth of young coconut palms.
In 2021 an incorporated KDC was granted a 25-year lease for the plantation’s rehabilitation and profiteering. This eventually paved way for the construction of a new white copra dryer by this determined local entity.
Rehabilitating the old coconut plantation was challenging because most of the existing coconut stands are not productive or have become senile. However, that did not deter or hamper the determination of KDC.

The progress of the construction of a new white copra dryer is an interesting story regarding the revival of this once run-down coconut plantation. The new white copra dryer venture was consistent with KIK’s specifications at KDC’s own cost.
The KDC/Kik partnership would also see a central coconut nursery established for replanting which for the long-run would enhance white copra trading in that part of the Sepik west coast region of Wewak district.
Both organisations acknowledged the advice and direction of late Uron Salum, a coconut produce advocate who encouraged white copra as a means to earning a decent income for the vulnerable coconut growing communities in PNG.
According to Allan Wahwah, a KIK development officer for the Sepik Region, KIK is focused on boosting good quality and quantity.
The new white copra dryer has double kiln pipes and floor drying spaces of six by three meters. It was later fitted with new chimneys.
A proud executive of KDC said white copra production has commenced. KDC intends to buy whole dry nuts and copra from nearby communities in Dagua and Aitape going forward as well.
Kik is one of their key development partners. It is focused on ensuring its partnership with KDC would add value to Karawap plantation rehabilitation and advancement.
Wawah explained that Kik’s key development programmes would be focused on encouraging replanting of unproductive palms through nursery establishment, and downstream processing of high-value coconut products (HVCP) thus stimulating white copra production.
Furthermore, Kik intends to focus on promoting HVCP such as natural oil products which is also key program going forward for the revival of the PNG coconut industry.

• James Kila writes for Oloboi Media Agency based in Madang

Author faces biggest challenge

By PAUL MINGA
THE pursuit of a dream to publish a book as self-taught writer took me years to accomplish.
To think of a good story to write was easy but to construct it, for trained writers and journalists it might be as easy as ABC. But for me as bush writer, it was a bit of a struggle at first when trying to construct a sentence or paragraph for the initial write up.
I could still recall that to make the story flow and have good links it was another hurdle l went through as am not a trained writer myself. A sentence or phrase sounds OK when right prepositions were used at the right place. Likewise, for the use of verbs and adverbs when used at their rightful place each time – gives perfect finishing touches to the phrase or a sentence.
The other hurdle l encountered as a bush writer, at times l paused for seconds or even minutes in trying to think of an appropriate word to restart the new sentence or paragraph when lost track.
Anyway, those are some difficulties l encountered when embarking on my first book. As the saying goes, you have to be there doing this and that before you can tell others of your experience. As a bush writer l had gone through quite a tough journey that few trained writers made it without much trouble with their know-how and wealth of experience.
From my own understanding, we have countless PNG trained writers but we haven’t seen many books authored by those many PNG writers. Maybe because they have no time nor the desire to write that much. As a self-taught writer my first book titled “My First Plane Trip And Other Stories” I wish to congratulate our PNG authors for their perseverance and sacrifice in writing a book or boods of their own.
I knew and experienced myself how hard it is to write and the sacrifice, plus the effort and time it takes to write. For PNG writers who did it – l can say they are heroes in their own right because most Papua New Guineans can show off speaking the English language but cannot express themselves in a book.
Therefore, l wish to take this opportunity in acknowledging PNG authors namely, Sir Paulias Matane, Josephine Abaijah, Sir lgnatius Kilage, Stephen Winduo, Daniel Kumbon, Bolkin Sil and many others.
Thumbs up to these writers because they defeated odds to produce a product of their profession. It is a job that requires the effort of only committed and determined writers who l can classify as those who looked beyond their career horizons. Congratulations to you all.
By the way, to write a book or put together ideas is free but to get a book published requires money. I had encountered the pain of mustering English language and at the same time endured the struggles of securing funds to get my book published.
But I was strengthened by the belief that I needed to stay focused and never give up to achieve my dream. I did exactly that and finally achieved my dream – getting my first book published some time ago.
However, as I soon found out, publishing a book is not the end of a writer’s struggles; he or she has to look into the marketing of the product as well.
As a self-taught writer I have gone through a journey that was not smooth sailing from start to finish. But the struggle is never-ending and on-going as l tried to do sales of my product.
Still with my struggles, l kept my head high pushing for one more sale of my book. l endured the struggles and thought it would end but it still continues. Life is full of struggles I brushed aside my shame as a final hurdle and now I am selling my book on the streets in Port Moresby.
I am currently selling my book at the 7-Mile main bus stop next to Jacksons International Airport. You can call me on 70554981 or [email protected].