Food Crops in PNG Increase Incomes and Equality

Now that the growing season in PNG has started, we’re thrilled to share updates on this project, including expected yields and income increases, and even hear from farmers themselves about how this project has benefited them.

Food crops were chosen based on farmer needs, soil type and cash crops. The 5 vegetables chosen were:

• Potato
• Carrot
• Bulb onion
• Chinese Cabbage
• Green Coronet Cabbage

172 farming families received seeds. These seeds will have an enormous impact:

• 50,740 kg of food grown
• Average additional income of $324.50 per family
• 16% average increase in income per family
• Improved family nutrition

Martha Dukio is a coffee farmer in our Lamari supply chain and one of the recipients of food crops from this project. For her, the benefits of these food crops are twofold: they help her pay for basic household needs and they increase gender equality and decision-making in her household.

I will make use of the income from these food crops to meet basic household needs like saving for school fees and other obligations

Martha Dukio

In her household and in many other families in PNG, husbands typically control household income from coffee production. “My husband spends the money unwisely without proper planning and budgeting to meet our household needs,” Martha explains. The food crops even the playing field by helping Martha access a new source of income over which she maintains control of the money.

I am overjoyed and very happy with this gift from Sucafina. I can already think ahead how much income I will make from sowing these seeds and selling them. Not only the money but these food crops will also contribute to nutritious meals for my family as well.

Martha Dukio

Martha plans to use these food crops as a “starter kit” that will inform what crops are the most profitable or nutritious for her family. She intends to continue investing in additional crops to grow her cash and food crop business.

Thanks to participating farmers like Martha, Sucafina in PNG considers this first round of cash and food crop distribution a resounding success. “This pilot is a really good sign. Families have a more balanced diet, female farmers have a greater say in financial decision making and families as a whole make more income,” Delma reports. Sucafina in PNG plans to continue working with other actors like NGOs, governments and Sucafina sales offices to fund more seed distributions across their supply chains in PNG. Interested in getting involved? Contact your trader to learn more.