Festival to promote agriculture, traditions in province

By GYNNIE KERO
EAST Sepik will host a festival this month aimed at promoting agriculture and traditional practices from its six districts.
Provincial culture and agriculture show committee member Chris Karis emphasised the need to revive the event.
With the theme “reviving, promoting and preserving cultural values,” Karis said each district was expected to showcase its traditions as well as its main cash crop.
The province has an estimated population of 433,000 people and is 43,426sq km.
All districts, Wewak, Angoram, Yangoru-Saussia, Wosera-Gawi, Maprik and Ambunti-Dreikikir have confirmed their participations in the show. “Every district wants to showcase its singsing and resource. We (East Sepik) used to have cultural shows. This year we want to revive it. Going forward, we want to work with Tourism Promotion Authority to promoting it so we can market it to tourists,” Karis, a local tour operator, said.
He said the event would begin with a float from the Boram Junction taking the Dagua Road to Wewak town and beach road to the Somare Stadium.
He said East Sepik Governor Allan Bird was expected to launch the show which runs from Nov 21-23. Karis thanked the provincial government, the local and international business community and districts for their support and commitment in hosting the event.