Students and parishioners at Mungulep in Porgera, Enga, recently staged an Agriculture Field Day to showcase their first harvest assisted by 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.
“Helping to re-establish the agricultural skills that have been in this area for thousands of years is definitely a worthy project, which we’re proud to support,” Esplin said.
The field day on 28 October was staged to mark the first harvest of food crops since June this year, when students from Yomondak Elementary School and the parishioners from the Catholic Parish participated in the Agrikids program.
“This program is a great example of the value of education. The Porgera Joint Venture sees education as the door for individuals and families and young people for a better and a brighter future.
“We remain as always interested in working in partnership with schools, women’s organisations and the community in general, to develop and support education, and this program is a fantastic example,” stated Esplin.
Teacher-in-charge of the school, Cathy Akus, thanked PJV for the training of students, teachers and some parents.
“Through the training we’ve learnt new skills…I hope the students and the community have learnt more on farming…and I hope that they will implement what they have learnt from the company.”
(Esplin, left, with some PJV staff were delighted to stand in a broccoli plot at Yomondak Primary School)