by Merilyn Diau-Katam – EM TV News, Port Moresby
The dry season has destroyed many food crops in the rural areas of the country, resulting in the decrease of food security.
However, a German Government office based in Suva, has initiated agriculture based program in Bereina in the Central Province to cope with the current impacts of climate change.
Coping with Climate Change in the Pacific Island Region Program had begun three years ago. The first piloted site was in Kivori, in the Bereina District.
“This initiative is by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). In Papua New Guinea, the associated partners are National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI); they are the leading implementers, national Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL) and the Office of Climate Change and Development (OCCD). The Office of Climate Change and Development are funding this” said James Anderson, an agriculture specialist from the National Agriculture Research Institute.
The program is aimed at mainstreaming and developing adaptation strategies and implementation of adaptation measures at the national level.
Farmers were also trained on techniques in food processing and food preservation.
The program also saw the building of simple irrigation systems to irrigate the gardens.
Although the program will end later on this year, it is up to the farmers to take ownership of their farm.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=E2ZmM_WXRzc%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
