GROWING ORGANIC BEETROOT IN SIMBU

 

 

BERRY'S BEETROOT

 

BEET ROOT - is it a root product? Is it succulent? Well it does look very, very sweet.

So where does it come from?

Hold it right there friend. If you're a fan of beetroot, we've found someone for you from the foot of PNG's highest mountain.

Meet farmer Berry Kupo, who plants and nourishes the tuber in Kundiawa-Gembogl, Chimbu Province.

The potential in the quality of growing crops organically in the area prompted Kupo, a local from Yuwai Village to venture into supplying seedlings and assist disadvantaged people in producing organic crops under Trust Organic Vegetables Produce in an attempt to review and tap into industry following demand by consumers within and overseas.

Through his contacts in Australia, where he studied and lived as a missionary, Kupo has supplied seeds and helped built a nursery base to assist people who are less fortunate in their communities.

At Yuwai village, ward 2, Kundiawa Urban LLG, Kupo operates a small station where he dispatches seedlings to disadvantaged people in the electorate including those from Sinasina Yongomugl, Kerowagi and Gumine, while Chuave and Karamui Nomane districts are yet to be reached.

He said many bureaucrats die from foods eaten so we encourage our farmers on organically grown vegetables to keep live healthy. We lead people to till and live on the land because God gave us garden rather a cheque book, a reference to the first Garden of Eden.

"Organic crops must go into a market, someone must use it for consumption because a lot of your elites can be saved from such lifestyle diseases after unconsciously going into unhealthy foods," Kupo said.

He said health workers especially food nutritionist must reach out into villages and make awareness of foods and diets with its side effects towards healthy living.

Trust Organic Vegetables Produce delivers free seedlings including varieties of herbs, bulb onion, tomatoes, celery, asparagus, cabbages and even goats to the unfortunates in the isolated parts of the districts as well as the province, he said.

Kupo said we help these people who thought they are missing out in the basic services with commercial foods to make some money to support its basic needs as children’s school fees.

“We rather see smiles on those successful people and that’s our satisfaction,” he said.

It is now 12 years of this work in the rural communities that we can see benefits farmers gained through their children now attending colleges and the universities in the country, Kupo. who is also takes a full time pastoral duty in the province.

Kupo thanked his wife Dorcas and children for the support through flex cards, transport, fuel, insecticides and cash that drives him right out to the remote parts of the province.

He said when taking up this job in agriculture he referred back to his high school days where he was taught basic farming which he finds useful now.

He said most farmers involved are reformed drug addicts or law breakers but now they are groomed with a future of prosperity.

"At one time, I had an issue with the NAQIA on the foreign seeds especially beetroot but later with the help of my family, we sorted this issue out, because they have seen as genuine," he said.

Trust Organic Vegetables Produce supplied, grows and sells beetroot plant, a dedicated crop which we hardly find seeds in the country, he said.

Kupo said some of the crops like beetroot celery, asparagus and varieties of herbs supplied and grown are natural cure to many body affected diseases and sicknesses.

There are about 94 nursery base with over 500 registered members in Chimbu Province. He is now gradually reaching out into Jiwaka and Madang provinces.

Kupo said he had to travel by PMV or foot for its visitation leading to a start up with seedling base.

Kupo thanked Seeds Ministry in Townsville, Australia for the continuous support with seeds which he helped both sick and family into successful lives.

“We encourage organic crops because it helps sick like diabetes, arthritis, gout and cancer,” said Kupo.

Kupo thanked Simbu Provincial Government for recognising him as a partner in agriculture developments in the province.

For further information you can contact Berry Kupo on Mobile: 71879289 Email psbkupo@gmail.com. Or Trust Organic Vegetables Produce, PO Box 17, Kundiawa, Chimbu Province.