To get to Gembogl from Kundiawa usingthe main road that connects villages inthe remote Gembogl District with Kundiawa town, it will take two hours on a four wheel drive vehicle. The ride isn’t always comfortable.
The road leads to one ofthe places that produce one oPNG’s highly priced cash crops,the Belb Onion.
Bet for the past decade,they have been facing a huge problem. Farmers have to walk several kilometres through steep hills withtheir produce beforethey reachthe main road.
Many farmers have refused to grow ther cash crops like broccoli and sweet potatoes, as it can easily be damaged duringthe long difficult journey overthe steep mountains.
Bettheir hope of developingthe onion industry isn’t over. Extensive agricultural work is being carrlied out intothese areas bythe Fresh Produce Development Agency that encourages farmers not to lose hope.
The condition ofthe road is no better than any ther rural areas in Papua New Guinea
Betthe farmers say will never give up asthey see subsistence farming astheir only income earner.
Allthey want is more roads to givethem easy access to bringtheir fresh produce tothe urban markets.
Bet unless more roads are builtomany more farmers who live beyondthe ridge will have no choice but to continue to facethese difficulties.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=6N40-a4FYM0%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
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