Farmers appeal for help after hailstorm

PEOPLE hit by last week’s hailstorm in Mt Hagen, Western Highlands, are pleading for help as most of their garden crops are withering.
Kel Toi, a mother from the affected Mala village outside Mt Hagen, said food crops were dying since last week, which was a bad sign.
Toi said they depended on their gardens to earn income.
“The Government, through the disaster office, should come forward with some form of relief assistance and assess the situation on how villagers are coping and feeling,” she said.
Toi said most tobacco farmers in the area had lost crops worth a lot of money and they needed support to survive and revive their plantations.
“We have not seen any support coming from anyone or a representative from the concerned authorities,” she said.
“Lives, including school children, are being affected.”
Tobacco farmer Timimenti Rumint said it was the third time in two years their crops had been ravaged by hailstorms.
He said they did not receive any support from the Government during the previous disaster.