Vanilla farmers undergo training

A GROUP of farmers in Karawari LLG, East Sepik, recently attended a vanilla cultivation, husbandry and processing training conducted by the European Union funded support to rural entrepreneurship, investment and trade programme in Papua New Guinea (EU-Streit PNG).
Located in Angoram, Karawari borders the Highlands, hence, the training attracted farmers from as far as Enga.
The training was held in two sessions – theoretical and practical – focusing on cultivation practices (site selection, space marking and planting) husbandry/management practices (shade control, looping, mulching, pollination) processing/curing practices (killing, drying and packaging).
However, the training emphasised more on the practicality of the skills learnt and acquired.
Women and youths were encouraged to take the lead in the vanilla business.
Tombe Pasu, director of Karawari tropical vanilla said: “I see vanilla has good value and is easy to transport.
“My people can transport it from the village to the market with lesser cost unlike cocoa.”
Karawari has a population of about 15,000 people and their diet comprises mainly of sago and fish.
Cocoa is their source of income, but the pod borer pest cut off this lifeline and many turn to vanilla as an alternative source of income.