By Kenny Romanus
A major step toward strengthening food security in Saru area was marked with the official launch of the Aramba Development Foundation Inc.’s (ADF) Food Security Program.
A large gathering of locals from the Aramba tribe and neighboring Suki and Nama communities attended the launch ceremony, which celebrated a significant milestone in the Aramba tribes’ development journey.
The event, held in South Fly’s Serki Village, saw the handover of 10 rice mills and a generator, donated through generous support from the Australian Government’s Direct Aid Program and Irish Aid. The total value of the equipment is AUD 9,202 and EUR 5,514.52.
The rice mills and generator will be distributed across nine communities in the Saru area, including Serki, Kiriwo, Eniyawa, Goe, Sitavi, Meru, Zembo, Keru, and Geri villages.
ADF Chairman Francis Fawe expressed deep appreciation to the donor partners, describing the gesture as a powerful endorsement of the people’s potential. “These contributions are more than acts of charity; they are acts of trust and solidarity,” he said.
“The donors have chosen not only to invest in food security, but in people, their dignity and their aspirations.”
Mr. Fawe encouraged community members to take full ownership of the equipment and ensure responsible management to guarantee long-term benefits and sustainability.
He also acknowledged the hard work of ADF’s agricultural officers, Mr. Sarwi Wiyahk, Mr. Garifa Togina, and Mr. Hox Bai, alongside a team of dedicated volunteers. Their efforts, he said, have been instrumental in advancing local economic development, often under challenging conditions.
Both Mr. Togina and Mr. Bai are graduates of the Trukai Smart Farmer Program, where they received training in smart, irrigated rice farming at PNG University of Technology(Unitech) and Pacific Adventist University(PAU). They have since successfully established rice farms in their respective communities.
The ceremonial ribbon-cutting was conducted by Mr. Buidu Gainu, Acting Officer-in-Charge of the Nakaku government station.
Due to logistical challenges at the Suki jetty, the rice mills were transported by air from Port Moresby to Daru, then delivered to Serki village by sea.
The initiative marks a critical step forward in promoting food self-reliance and community resilience in the Aramba area, further reinforcing ADF’s mission of sustainable rural development.
Western Star 