Over 2017 and 2018 CDWAI is partnering with the Tsak Rural Women’s Empowerment Foundation in Wapenamanda District, Enga Province in the PNG Highlands. The Tsak is in the foothills of the main central ranges at altitude between 1700 and 2400 metres, warm to hot by day, cool, often wet and cold by night. There are still forested patches of tropical oaks along the rivers and high ridges, amidst bush regrowth in old food garden areas and grasslands resulting from repeated burning after gardening. It is a beautiful area.
The Enga people of the Tsak are friendly but crowded with a great deal of food being grown in the area complemented by big imports of rice, flower, noodles, tinned fish and meat both canned and frozen. Vegetables are grown in abundance so that the women sell broccolii, sweet potato, shallots, onions and various greenleaf bunches out to the markets at Wapenamanda and Wabag, the provincial capital about 45km away.
The current project is for TRWEF and women’s groups leadership development to up-skill them for organizing to market their fresh vegetable and fruits and to better deal with conflict within their groups and within local communities. Such local standoffs and division breaks down the cooperation needed to maintain supply contracts or isolates the women.
At the same time the CDWAI team is addressing the long term need for adaptation to the frequent drought spells which are how the Tsak people, and many other Highlands groups, are experiencing climate change. This work includes facilitating the women, in particular, to systematically adopt drought avoidance practices, modify traditional planting techniques to improve crop hygiene (so minimizing insect infestation) and to rebuild and maintain soil fertility. We are also making them aware of how much topsoil is lost when new gardens are planted, especially on steep slopes, introducing some basic soil conservation measures as well as the potential for more radical changes like permanent contour hedgerows within their garden blocks.
Recently our focus has expanded to Safanaka in Bena District, close to Goroka. Training and discussion is happening around soil management, mulch, erosion control and plant propogation. There’s even been room to help people understand how to set up small solar panels, controllers, batteries and lights. There’s lots more planned for 2019.
Sincere thanks to our primary sponsors – Pacific Women.