Farmer urges people to grow yams

Highlands, Normal
Source:

The National, Wednesday 8th May 2013

 By ELIAS LARI

PEOPLE in the highlands region have been advised to plant African yam to help them during droughts and generate income for their families.

African yam farmer and chairman of the Remdi Milimba Cooperative Society Yomas Dosung said in Mt Hagen yesterday that he was using the cooperative society to introduce the African yam in the region to help people.

“This crop is drought-resistant and people can sustain their lives during dry seasons. It also has a high demand in the market.

“I bought 20 seedlings in 2011 from the National Research Institute in Lae, Morobe, and the number is increasing now,” he said.

Dosung said from the 20 seedlings he harvested 200 yams which kept on multiplying.

Dosung said he had more than 2,000 matured yams.

The National visited his yam garden yesterday as Dosung made his first harvest at Poimend village just outside Mt Hagen City. 

He was taking it to Lae for the NARI show on May 24.

The yams weigh between 25 to 40kg.

Dosung said the yam could be stored for more than six month after harvesting.

He aims to supply seedlings to interested farmers in the highlands.