Growing ‘Asakeya’ – The National

LIFE

**Kutivi Yane, son Tobby and wife Julie at Tarabo with the 75 kilogram ‘Asakeya’ yam in Okapa, Eastern Highlands, before taking it to his elder brother in Lae, Morobe. – Picture supplied**

By EHEYUC SESERU
HUGE yam species called ‘Asakeya’ in the local Keyagana dialect of Tarabo people in Okapa, Eastern Highlands, is significant among the people.
Asakeya is harvested and eaten only during special occasions like bride price ceremony, payment for children or het pei (head-pay), and after being victorious in tribal war.
Sadly, it no longer has value among the Keyagana speaking people.
In keeping its significance, a local village farmer Kutivi Yane brought the yam he planted a decade ago, from the village to Works Compound along Milford Haven road in Lae, Morobe on New Year’s Eve.
It was a new year’s gift for his elder brother Jondaly Apayo Yane Karupi and his family in the land of blue, yellow green.
The yam weighed about 120 kilograms when it was dug last October, but had shrunk to 75kg the time it was brought to Lae.
Yane, who only completed grade eight at Tarabo primary school, says farming and hunting are his family’s main source of survival.
Yane says he is the only one who have planted the yam and to observe its cultural significance.
He has five children; four boys and a girl with four grandchildren.
His eldest son was a motor vehicle mechanic, second son – an air conditioning technician, and third son is attending Tarabo High school. The fourth son is a student at Badili Vocational Center and last-born girl was married and living at the village.
Yane and his wife Julie have a number of plant sweet potato, taro, yam and ground-bean gardens in the village.
He said they eat some of their garden produce and sell most at the Goroka and Lae markets to support the family.
“I’m a farmer and hunt cuscus as well. All my time is centered in bush and on gardens.”
He explained he planted the yam in 2012 before moving to Port Moresby to live with another elder brother.

**Tobby (left) with mum Julie collecting greens at one of their gardens. They have number of gardens planted with sweet potato, yam and ground-bean.**

“I had planted the yam in the bush; in an old area where our grandparents and parents’ gardens used to be. My father was the only person during his time to have planted the yam. I am also the only one to plant it, using a
very small vine.
“I cut a small stick and erect it beside the plant where it coils around, at an old garden overgrown with shrubs. Nobody had seen it, and didn’t make gardens there. My wife also forgot all about the garden.”
Yane went back to the village early last year, after nine years and realised the yam was actually ready for harvest.
“Everyone in the village stopped planting this yam because it takes six to 12 years to become fully grown.
“I actually forgot about it. Shrubs were growing all over my garden when I came back early last year. I lit the bush with fire and to my surprise saw the yam.
“When I dug it, I saw it was huge and heavy for me to lift.”
Yane said it looked like a very huge rock.
“Young boys in the village assisted me in carrying the yam.”
He decided to observe its cultural significance by taking it to his elder brother on the special day of year-ending.
“When it is given to someone it indicates respect and how important the day is. It can be preserved for three to six months after being harvested,” said Yane.
He said the yam kept the people survive drought and tribal crisis when they could not go gardening.
“It is the only drought-resistant food. It keeps us going during dry season. Other food crops can dry out but asakeya still grows on dry soil and scorching heat of sun on earth’s surface. It doesn’t need to be watered. It is a very strong crop and signifies strength when eaten.”
He plans to make two more gardens of ground-bean this year.
Jondaly thanked his brother for the customary gift and said our customs defines us and it should be upholding by today’s generation.
“Our culture defines and shapes our way of life. Though we live in the city and forgot all about our identity, we are so proud that my small brother works on land and he made the New Year 2022 so special to us,” said Jondaly.
He said the ‘Asakeya’ was an indication of their ancestors and cultural practices still alive in the Yane family.
“We will pass this practice to our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren,” Jondaly said.