Villagers must start growing new coconut trees as food for its growing population.
This was the message at a workshop on environment and food security on Lou Island, Manus.
The UNDP funded project through the Lou Island Coastline Rehabilitation, a non-profit organization launched the ‘Plant a Tree” initiative last week.
The workshop was attended by people from Baluan,Lou and Pam Islands,
President of Balopa LLG, Ngenge Sasa told participants that most island and coastal communities fail to plant new trees to replace the aging coconut trees.
“Most of the coconut trees we live on now were planted by our grandfathers and parents,” Sasa said.
“What are we going to do with the hundreds of children we have now and their children?
“Plant new ones as part of our food security.”
Coconut trees were planted in huge numbers around the New Guinea Island region in the late 1800’s by the Germans during the height of Coconut and Cocoa Plantation business.
In the last 20 years the falling commodity prices has affected most farmers and lose interest to work their land and plant new trees.
(Caption: Cs1 TV crew from the left Darren Stevens,Clera Sam and Savo Jeff got in act of planting new coconut trees in Rei Village,Lou island,Manus.Pictures by Reuben Pokanau)