Farmers continue to use traditional knowledge

Farmers in East New Britain continue to use traditional knowledge when planning for the next cropping season but changing weather patterns is affecting their farm.

They indicate that, they lack weather information to plan for the next season.

Their farms are affected due to prolonged dry periods resulting in reduced yields and crops wilting.

They explained that after the rainy season, insects infest crops resulting in loss of yield and food insecurity.

To address these challenges, farmers were introduced to making plant-derived pesticides and use of organic fertilizers to improve crop yield.

Farmers also witnessed field demonstration of planting techniques using single sweetpotato vine, the use of irrigation, and construction of proper drainage on a slope.

These activities are part of a farmer field-day hosted by Kerevat staff engaged in the climate smart agriculture project supported by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).

The project aims to see how farming communities integrate scientific and indigenous climate information into a seasonal weather forecast to improve agricultural production.

Climate change is an increasing risk to agricultural production and PNG is no different.

The climate smart agriculture project is supported by ACIAR in three sites; Bubia in Morobe, Aiyura in Eastern Highlands and Kerevat in East New Britain province.

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