The magic of Paela as described by the visiting Author

by JAMES KILA

DEEP within the Lagaip-Porgera district of Enga province reveals a rich lyricism of Paela, a place naturally blessed yet neglected due to isolation and lack of attention by authorities concerned.

The general scenery in that part of the country, especially the unique species of high altitude flora and fauna, wildlife and scenic mountain ranges are truly majestic.

I set foot on this beautiful part of the country a couple of weeks ago with a team of experts from the Coffee Industry Corporation to share the pearls of coffee wisdom to the people Porgera and Paela Valleys.

Our four-hour journey was truly arduous but the beautiful scenery and the cool-fresh mountain air made all worries vanished.

After passing the junction towards Mt Kare we descended down the limestone sealed road down of a ridge towards the valley, which from uphill look spectacular as . Driving was however, the local named Masol controlled the wheels superb.

The sources of some of the country’s the major river systems are found in that area then later meander down the gullies the valley floors to the Gulf and Western province in the southern part and Sepik in the north part of the country.

Prior to our trip organized by the Porgera Joint Venture (PJV) Sustainable Development department, we had absolutely no idea that coffee was grown in that remote part of the country. The general perception was that it was at a high altitude and the crop would not be conducive in such environment.

Coffee exists as an important cash crop to this Paela problem, however, lack of proper extension and lack of markets has forced farmers to abandon their gardens to only concentrate on subsistence gardening.

Generally, farmers lack of sufficient knowledge in almost all aspects of coffee production. These include nursery establishment, field planting, basic and intensive rehabilitation packages, harvesting and processing, quality improvement and marketing.

Despite our official trip to this magnificient environment,

Standing at Paela airstrip one can look across the range to Hewa, which borders the Oksapmin people to the north-west.

My recent field trip to this beautiful part of the country generally summarized my perception that Enga is not that negative as it is painted in the media. The people are very friendly and always greet any newcomer to their place with warmth.

Crossing a mountain creek in Paela.

In fact, traveling to this beautiful part of the country brings you to where both culture and traditional and the rich flora and fauna is work in harmony. Despite the distance a good number of expatriates, especially missionaries who have gone into Paela and Hewa have gone away with rare sightings of bird of Paradise and have commented highly

There is an airstrip right in the heart of Paela station. Several permanent buildings, including a recently constructed district office by the Porgera Joint Venture

People at Paela travel by PMV taking over six hours to along a bumpy road to reach the nearby town of Porgera to trade pig meat karuka (pandanus) and replenish their supplies.

Locals told us stories of a magical stream which has the strength to swallow humans during flooding. They even related stories magical lake on the borders of Hewa and Paela into which leaves have fallen and where the locals bath for good health.

Lack of buyers and markets has also dictated and reduced the ability and interests of the farmers to vigorously pursue their interest in the cash crop.

Additionally, inadequate infrastructure maintenance has also discouraged farmers to continue work on their coffee. The road access to Paela, an area where many farmers are growing coffee is about 80-kilometres long with some sections in rather treacherous condition and pose threat to coffee buyers to send vehicles to back-load coffee produce.

Farmers told us they still have a keen interest in coffee development. But require a comprehensive training in the different coffee techno-packages such as nursery development, field planting, rehabilitation, harvesting and processing, quality improvement and marketing to further enhance coffee development in the area.

Many farmers expressed that if the Enga provincial government and the PJV Sustainable Development is serious in fulfilling its social and economic obligations to the masses outside the immediate mining areas throughout and beyond the life of the project then coffee is the definite cash crop to be reckon with to sustain their livelihood.

Ends……/

The highhest peak between Paela and Mt Kare...

Great scenery, is it possible to climb the peak? I heard that Peter Ipatas and the Manager of Ela Motors recently did tour of the area on a motor bike....any pictures or stories of the event?

Word from the author is that.....

Many locals including expats living or working in Pogera have actually climbed the peak a number of times. (so it seems a suitable place for those who have a passion for mountain climbing)

Unfortunately Peter Ipatas & Ela Motors Manager went as far as Pogera...but not to Paela. From Pogera to Paela would be another 4 to 6 hours ride.