Madang Government urged to support koniak farmers

The Madang Provincial Government has been urged to support koniak farmers in the province, especially in terms of creating road access for them to bring their produce to the markets in town.

The call was made by the Managing Director of Ocean Kava Limited, a local buyer and exporter of Koniak, Madang's very own Kava.

Bilake Enape Waizepa extended the farmers' call recently whilst presenting a new Isuzu dyna vehicle to a local farmer.

Mr Waizepa said many of the Koniak farmers come from remote villages that have no road links and transport remains their biggest challenge when trying to bring their produce into town.

"Koniak farmers come from very remote locations, unlike cocoa and copra farmers; most of whom have easy access to road transport. Some of our farmers carry their koniak and walk for 2 to 3 days before getting on a PMV or boat to come to town just to sell their produce.

"Koniak is now transforming the livelihoods of rural families in Madang. It is directly putting K3 million to K4 million into farmers' pockets annually.

"They, however; need a little push from the government, especially with transport assistance. For those farmers in Raikos and on Karkar Island, they need bigger boats to move their koniak bags to Madang town. The small boats are not safe during times of strong winds and high seas," Mr Waizepa said.

He added that Koniak farmers in Madang Province have not received any form of assistance from the government since they started some six to seven years ago.

Despite their struggles, Mr Waizepa continues to encourage them to work hard.

The company has created a partnership program with the farmers to help them purchase materials like roofing sheets, iron posts, farming tools and/ or vehicles, boats, and other necessities to improve their livelihoods in the village.

Last week, it gave away another truck to a farmer under the partnership program.

The company's owner and Managing Director, Bilake Enape Waizepa, handed over a brand new Isuzu dyna to farmer Justin and his wife under the partnership program.

Justin from Simbai grows Koniak in his wife's village, Basken on Madang's north coast, and has been selling to Ocean Kava for two years.

However, his farm income over the last two years has been kept by the company under the program until it accumulated to over a hundred and thirty thousand kina, enough to purchase an Isuzu dyna.

Justin and his wife drove away a happy and satisfied couple last Tuesday with their first vehicle.

They were the fourth vehicle recipients.

The first three farmers got a Toyota Landcruiser, an Isuzu Dyna, and an open back utility.

Mr Bilake told farmers who witnessed Justin receive his Isuzu dyna from the company last week that nothing is impossible if they commit themselves to what they do are doing.

He said, "Justin's story should serve as an inspiration to other farmers to continue to work hard."

Ocean Kava Limited is one of Madang's leading buyers and exporters with secured markets in Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, China, and other countries.

It currently exports up to 100 tonnes annually.

Waizepa, meanwhile; plans to build a koniak processing facility in the nation's capital in order to add value to the product and to help create employment for the young people.

He added,"Nothing is impossible if you trust yourself and put your heart whole heart into what you're doing."

Justin said that as a simple carpenter, he did not think he would be successful one day.

He thanked Ocean Kava for introducing the partnership program to farmers, a lot of whom are already benefiting from it.