Through MAF’s air service, peanut farmers from the lower highlands of Papua New Guinea find ways to earn an income and support their children’s education – despite the challenges of isolation.
Story by Aquila Matit.
“When we plant peanuts, our goal is to help support our children go to school,” said Bos Kowelsipa, a father of three.
Bos, who is from the Sorita community in the remote Karimui district of Simbu Province, is the chairman of Karimui High School and an active peanut farmer.
“One of the cash crops we grow here in Karimui is peanuts,” he said. “We make up to about 20 peanut bags, sometimes we make 30, sometimes 50 bags. We bring these 50 kg peanut bags to the airstrip and to the plane."
“In Karimui district we have nine airstrips where MAF aeroplanes land. Some airlines do not come often to Karimui. MAF is one of the main operators that fly to Karimui and to Simbu and Goroka.
“There are no roads to towns. MAF is our way to take our produce out,” Bos said. “I do not have any way to earn money, so I plant peanuts. With this, I fly with MAF to sell my produce.”
Bos is one of many cash crop farmers in Papua New Guinea who benefit from the servicesof MAF. He shared his pioneering experience of earning income through peanut sales.
“In my community, before anyone planted peanuts, I was the first person,” he said. “I made 30 bags after my first harvest, put these on the MAF plane and flew this from Karimui to Kundiawa, Simbu Province. There, I paid for a bus, and transported my peanuts all the way to the city of Mount Hagen.
“I sold each bag for 120 Kina and earned 3,600 Kina (850 USD). I got this money and returned to Sorita. With this money I was able to pay for my children’s school fees,” he said.
Living in the very remote communities of Karimui, people see education as a means of sustaining better living. And so, parents prioritise investment in their children’s education.
“We pay for children’s school fees first,” Bos added. “Then we think of buying our clothes and so on.
“But the big motive is: we are living in a remote area. We earn and pay for our children’s fees so that they must be educated, find a job and live in towns. This is the main reason we plant peanuts.
“MAF comes and supports us to fly our peanuts, this removes our burden,” he added.
MAF comes and supports us to fly our peanuts
Despite the challenges to make this cash crop yield profits in such a remote place, parents can still generate an income thanks to MAF’s aviation support.
Bos expressed gratitude for the support MAF gives for health emergencies, in addition to flying peanuts for local farmers.
“Even when we are sick or when a mother is in labour and struggles, the MAF plane comes,” Bos said. “Even when there is no cargo frontload or backload, they still come to rescue us.
We are happy for MAF.”