Agriculture

Kerowagi District boasts significant agricultural potential, underpinned by its fertile land, favorable climate, and diverse topography. The district’s agricultural landscape comprises lush highland valleys and rolling hills, making it well-suited for various crops and livestock.

The primary agricultural activities in Kerowagi include:

• Coffee is the main cash crop in Kerowagi District. The district is one of the major coffee-growing areas in Simbu Province. The coffee season starts from as early as March to end of June and this period is normally referred to as six-mun. The local people are benefiting from recent increases in the world price of coffee.
• Apart from coffee, other crops grown in Kerowagi District include sweet potato, taro, yams, cabbage, tomatoes, beans, and peanuts. These crops are grown for subsistence and local markets.
• The district also has a potential for livestock production. However, this sector is not well developed due to lack of infrastructure and markets.
• The Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL) has a number of extension programs in Kerowagi District to help farmers improve their agricultural practices. These programs include training on crop production, livestock management, and marketing.

Here are some specific projects that are being implemented in Kerowagi District to improve agriculture:

• The Empowering Communities through Food Security project is funded by the Incentive Fund and is implemented by the Saint Arnold Janssen Human Development Centre. The project aims to increase and improve agricultural productivity, preparation, processing and preservation to help enhance food security, nutrition and cash income for farming and rural communities in Simbu and other provinces.
• The Highlands Agricultural Experiment Station at Aiyura provides research and extension services to farmers in the Highlands region, including Kerowagi District. The station has developed a number of improved varieties of crops, including coffee, sweet potato, and taro.
• The Kerowagi District Coffee Growers Association provides training and support to coffee farmers in the district. The association also helps farmers market their coffee.

Overall, agriculture is an important sector in Kerowagi District. The district has the potential to produce a variety of crops, but there are a number of challenges that need to be addressed in order to improve agricultural productivity and sustainability. These challenges include lack of infrastructure, markets, and access to credit. However, there are a number of projects being implemented to address these challenges and to help farmers improve their livelihoods.