Wiamungu community launches rice farming project in ESP

A village in Yangoru-Saussia has taken a bold step towards agricultural self-reliance by venturing into rice farming under the Wiamungu Community Cooperative.

Wiamungu village has planted one hectare of rice, cultivating the Trukai 12 variety supplied by Trukai Industries Limited. The initiative in East Sepik is aimeto strengthen food security and create new income opportunities for local families.

The rice project was introduced to Wiamungu Community by Eddie Wama, Director for Rice under the Numbo Association. Wama brought the concept from Kusambuk after attending the Trukai Smart Farmer Training conducted at Papua New Guinea University of Technology in Lae. Inspired by the training, he envisioned expanding rice cultivation beyond Numbo and identified Wiamungu as a suitable community to pilot the initiative in Sauso LLG.

Rice Numbo Association director Eddie Wama (Image: Supplied)

Speaking during an interview with NBC News, Wama made a public appeal to the East Sepik Provincial Government, the National Government, and non-governmental organisations to support the Wiamungu Community Cooperative. He emphasized that while the community has successfully planted one hectare through strong communal labour, mechanised support is now crucial to scale up production.

“With farming equipment such as ploughing machines and other basic agricultural machinery, we can reduce heavy reliance on manual labour and expand from one hectare to commercial hectares,” Wama said.

He said with the right support, Wiamungu could become a model rice-producing community within Yangoru-Saussia District and eventually contribute to provincial food supply.

Last Friday, a delegation from the East Sepik Provincial Administration, headed by director of provincial tourism Lucy Benguma, visited Wiamungu to assess the progress of the project and explore ways to provide institutional support.

East Sepik Tourism director Lucy Benguma (in red) with Provincial Administration officers from the division of Commerce backed by Wiamungu rice farmers *(Image: Supplied)*

Benguma commended the community for embracing agriculture as a pathway to economic empowerment. She pledged the Provincial Tourism Unit’s support by committing to provide a small-scale rice milling machine to the Wiamungu Community Cooperative.

The milling machine will enable the community to process their harvested rice locally, add value to their produce, and improve market readiness. It is also expected to inspire other wards within Sauso LLG and the wider Yangoru-Saussia District to consider rice farming as a viable economic and livelihood opportunity.

Community leaders expressed gratitude to the Provincial Administration for their guidance and support, stating that the rice project represents not just farming, but a strategic move toward sustainable rural development in East Sepik Province.