Porgera Joint Venture (PJV)

Under the PJV Food Security program, they were able to acquire improved crop farming skills through the Agrikids program, which is targeted at school children.

According to PJV Executive Managing Director Anthony Esplin, the company is happy to support communities in re-establishing agriculture skills, particularly through agriculture oriented projects.

“I spent most of my career working in developing countries around the world, and I’m a very great believer in the power of mining companies to do good in the communities where we operate.

The Porgera Joint Venture (PJV) has partnered with the Kokoda Track Foundation with a support of K150,000 to enable teachers in Enga to participate in KTF’s ‘Teach for Tomorrow’ training program.

The ‘Teach for Tomorrow’ program enables partially trained elementary teachers to complete their Certificates of Elementary Teaching, and become certified as fully-fledged elementary teachers.

The Enga project commenced in Wabag on 24 July, and will run for 6 weeks.

Porgera Joint Venture (PJV) introduced the method, which is also aimed at assisting farmers re-use their gardening plots all year round.    

The initiative was under the PJV Food Security Program.  

According to community development senior advisor, Regina Toropo, the method not only boosts soil fertility but improves quality and yield of vegetables, where the surplus can be sold at local markets.

“The results remain favourable as long as farmers continue to make composts and apply to their gardens.”  

Enga Governor, Sir Peter Ipatas, revealed this during the ground-breaking ceremony of the upgrading project at Paiam Oval recently.

During the ceremony, Ipatas thanked project sponsors, which include Porgera Joint Venture (PJV) and the Government.

He said with the upgrade, students in Porgera need not attend secondary schools in Wabag or Wapenamanda.

“So people of Porgera, people of Enga, we must know that there is development coming to our area,” said Ipatas.

The construction has been welcomed by Health Extension Officer (HEO) in charge of the clinic, Jerry Maku, and his staff who received building materials late last month from Porgera Joint Venture (PJV).

“A lot of mothers come here to deliver but we don’t have a delivery area. I am thankful the management heard about my request and came in a fast way,” a very appreciative Maku said.

Maku is also the health officer for Porgera district, including the Paiela sub-district.

And yields are expected to increase annually as the training programs continue.

Porgera Joint Venture (PJV) revealed this in a statement when announcing training programs for local farmers to properly maintain their gardens.

Local farmers within the Special Mining Lease (SML) area of the Porgera gold mine, who recently received skills on maintaining gardens, say their abilities will come in handy after the closure of the mine.

Jackybeth Peter from Yarik, who is one of the recipients, said this following the training provided by PJV.

The MoU also aims to provide alternate avenues of income generation for locals in Laigap-Porgera once the Porgera mine eventually shuts down.

Porgera CCI Chairman, Nickson Pakea,  said the MoU provide relevant training programs for local people to venture into small and medium business enterprises.

“It means that whoever is already in the field to start up a small or medium business enterprise, we will promote them, and whoever wants to venture into business, we will train them and make them become businessmen or women,” he said.

The devices include walking aids consisting of auxiliary crutches, elbow crutches and walking sticks which have been donated to all 27 recommended PDPA members.

The assistive devices were donated by AusAID and delivered to the PDPA through the assistance of Porgera Joint Venture.

During a handover ceremony, PDPA President, Thomas Petale, thanked AusAID as well as PJV for facilitating the delivery of the devices to them.

Petale, who is also an employee of PJV, commended PJV for recognising and supporting the population with disability in the district.

Under the Tax Credit Scheme, PJV is undertaking a public service housing maintenance program and renovating public service homes.

So far PJV has completed five of nine houses earmarked under the program, three of which were recently renovated.

Community Health Officer, Naomi Parakis, District Health Inspector, Robert Ame and Acting Deputy District Mining Coordinator, Daniel Aremo, of the Porgera District Administration are the latest recipients and received the keys to their new look houses last December.