Jiwaka crops reacting strangely to weather

By FRANK SENGE KOLMA
A STRANGE weather-related phenomenon has put a community in a remote part of the new Jiwaka province on the brink of starvation.
Their food crops are failing them and they are at a loss to determine why.
Terry Kerwil of the Tapia Wolumka tribe near the headwaters of the Jimi River last Thursday highlighted the plight affecting no less than seven council wards living on either bank of the river.
According to Kerwil, taro and sweet potato are not bearing and banana crops are stunting before they bear fruits.
“The soil is soggy and full of worms,” he said. “Kaukau just sends out roots but they form little marble like bulges instead of bearing tubers.”
“Taro crops grow healthily at first and their leaves dry up as they do when they are ready for harvesting. When we harvest them there is no food attached. They remain just as we planted them.
“I pulled out a banana crop and the roots had not spread out at all.
“We need some scientists or trained people to tell us what is happening.
“We need the government to assist us with food until we get new types or crops or this weather condition changes. People are already starving and it will get worse.”
Kerwil’s comments are supported separately by Andreas Bund of the Walkiai tribe and by magistrate Peter Bau of the Nond tribe.
Physical evidence of the complaint are to be found in markets where the food on display are shrivelled and a third of the size that would normally be found in these parts.
All spoke of higher than normal rainfall in the area.
Bau spoke of another condition sweeping the area which is baffling the locals as well.
The normally freezing weather conditions in these parts, from where the country’s tallest peak Mt Whilhelm can be seen in plain view, has become noticeably warmer.
Crops that would normally grow in warm conditions are suddenly thriving here.
“We are infested with mosquitoes,” Bau said, pointing out the protective net covering his bed.
“Mosquitoes were never here before. Food crops like some types of banana, greens and taro that would normally grow in warmer places near the Ramu plains are now growing up here.
“We must be told what is going on. Our people are confused and speaking of end times.”
Evidence of this too can be found in gardens around Bau’s Snow Pass, Ambunum, Ambullua, Mongum, and Dilma.