Morobe women’s group harvests cabbages

Business

LOCAL women farmers from Umi-Atzera in Markham, Morobe, have ventured into growing a variety of cabbages including the regular round cabbage and the Chinese pak choi.
The Arimp women’s group in Mangiang village, comprising 32 members, in collaboration with Fresh Produce Development Agency (FPDA) Mamose office in Lae invested time and effort to yield successful results.
The word arimp in local vernacular means “embrace” which is the group’s effort to grow different types of staple crops such as cabbage.
The initiative is part of the FPDA’s village extension worker (VEW) concept which started promoting backyard vegetable farming in May for the purpose of food security and to sell.
The women harvested lowland round cabbages, scientifically known as KK Cross, and pak choi last Thursday.
“This is an outstanding result for women to farm round cabbages in Markham and we will introduce bulb onions too,” FPDA senior extension adviser in Morobe Conrad Anthon said.
Anthon facilitated a series of training to enhance the local women’s knowledge and skills in growing cabbages.
Anthon said bulb onions and Highlands sweet potatoes would be introduced for growing in the district as well.