Youths, women launch cooperative to lift livelihood

YOUTHS and women in Nawaeb, Morobe, have launched a cooperative to lift their livelihood through agriculture with a taro project.
Situm Taro Farmers’ Cooperative (STFC) chairman Samson Woricke said the group was initiated by youths and mothers of second, third and fourth generation of ex-service men who held blocks in the area.
Woricke told The National during the launch that the cooperative had planted more than 4,000 taro suckers of different varieties.
“We have turn to farming as a source of sustainable income and improve our livelihoods with the motto ‘Hatwok na kamapim gutpela sindaun’ (Work hard and earn a good living),” he said.
“We see that there is no hope in formal employment for us as it required certified and experienced people.
“Our only hope is to go back and work hard and make an honest living out of the land.
“We need support from our community leaders, church leaders, law and order community, Department of Agriculture and Livestock and the Commerce Department.”
Wawin agricultural station farm manager Bamun Bange said it was good to see farmers taking the initiative to farm a local staple like taro.
“As the arm of provincial government responsible for the agriculture sector, we will partner with them in the project, work with them and assist them,’ he said.
Bange said in terms of commercial farming, local farmers had the potential in terms of land but needed support from the government and marketing agencies to have access to markets for their produce.
“There are few markets established but it is challenging and more are needed to create proper access for the local farmers,” he said.