Farmers in Lihir, New Ireland province of Papua New Guinea are growing rice as an alternative livelihood to mining. The Lihir Rice Project coordinator says farmers have harvested their first rice crop and are looking forward to another harvest in July. The project is receiving interest from other farmers. It aims to teach Lihirians sustainable farming practices like rice, fruits, vegetables and poultry after the mine closes. The program demonstrated rice milling and many farmers now want to grow their own rice.

1. PRESS RELEASEPRESS RELEASE
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Lihirians eye rice farming
Subsistence farmers from the Lihir mining area in
New Ireland province are growing rice as an
alternative to achieving a sustainable livelihood after
the mine.
Lihir Rice Project coordinator, Henry Baraka says
that the farmers from the Putput villages have
recently harvested their first rice crop and are looking
forward to another harvest season sometime in July.
He said the project is receiving positive response
from other farmers who are keen on planting their
own rice.
“Rice is being introduced to Masahet and Zuen
including the Lihir High School. Even the
neighbouring Tanga and Tabar islands are interested
in planting rice,” Baraka said.
Baraka is currently spearheading the agriculture
project, a non-mining component of the Lihir
Sustainable Development Plan, in which rice farming

2. is one of the initiatives. The development plan is an
initiative of the Lihir Mining Area Landowners
Association (LMALA).
The project began as a 3-month pilot programme in
August last year and has seen some good results
despite prevailing circumstances.
LMALA has purchased two rice mills and recently
staged a demonstration at the Londolovit town field
to show people how rice is milled.
Baraka said many more Lihirian farmers were
hooked on to the idea of growing their own after
tasting the home-grown rice during the
demonstration.
“The people were impressed with the results and
loved the idea of having their own rice fields. It’s a
good thing to see locally grown rice, harvested and
milled here, cooked and straight onto the plates,” he
adds.
The aim was to get Lihirians to participate in rice and
other farming projects as an alternative to a
sustainable living.

3. Baraka said they are also looking at implementing
fruit and vegetable project including poultry farming.
“One of the highlights for the program is that we now
have 10 students who are receiving training from
OISCA. We believe that what they learn will
contribute a lot to the implementation of these
projects,” he said.
Baraka said some farmers are seeing now that to have
a sustainable life after the mine, they must participate
in the development program.
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With pics
Captions:
1. Two young Lihirian milling rice at Londolovit in
Lihir
2. A youth being watched by interested crowd at
the rice-milling demonstration in March
3. Henry Baraka, addressing people during the
rice-milling demonstration held at Londolovit
town on Lihir in March