1. Project description

The Summary of the project is that the Imbongu Seed Potato Multiplication Center will specialize in producing seed potatoes to supply to local farmers in the rural communities to improve livelihoods and generate cash incomes for women and girls in the remote rural communities in the District/Province.

The project background needs and purpose that Imbongu Seed Potato Multiplication Center was imitated after the feedback information from the participants during the Peace Building Awareness at the village market conducted by Kirapim Sauten Hailens Association Inc (KSHA). The Peace Building Awareness was funded by the UN Women Spotlight Initiative through Femili PNG in 2021. The feedback information responses or recommendations from the Peace Building Awareness requesting the Organisation – KSHA to assist them with establishing a Seed Potato Multiplication Center to supply seeds to the local farmers, women, and girls in the rural communities to improve livelihoods through food security and generate cash incomes. Furthermore, noted that they (Community) do not have any cash crops to generate cash Incomes for their family units or household levels and living standards in the rural communities are poor or unhealthy. Thus, the purpose of the Imbongu Seed Potato Multiplication Center is for the production of certified Potato Seeds and supplies to the local farmers in the rural communities. This will also solve some issues and problems related to food security and cash flows by creating job employment for the school dropouts and women empowerment programs/activities in these rural communities and villages in the districts.

The project description of Imbongu Seed Potato Multiplication Center will be located at Glambo Village, Imbongu Proper Local Level Government, Imbongu District, of Southern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea. The Imbongu Seed Potato Multiplication Center project will specialize in producing seed potatoes and supplies to the local farmers especially women and girls to improve livelihoods, food security, and cash incomes in the rural communities in the province. The seed potato multiplication center has a land mass of 100 hectares (customary land) which will be used for Seed Potato Multiplication and distribution purposes in the province. The beneficiaries will be all women, girls, and farmers including disabilities groups, CSOs, and CBOs in the five (5) districts The funding will assist the group to purchase 100x certified seed potato bags, 100x potato Mix fertilizer bags, Training for members in application on uses of Fertilizers and transportation of materials into the site and planting.

The Brief Summary of the project Implementation level that,

I. Grant Agreement - A Signing of Agreement was signed between Kirapim Sauten Hailens Association Inc and Global Seed Grants 2022 (Korean SHE Foundation) on 22/4/2022,

II. Project Execution - The project execution period of six (6) months and had started on the 1st of May 2022 and will officially close on the 31st of October 2022. The project implementation stage is now in the third month and is expected to complete all activities by the end of the month.

III. Communication during the project period - The communication for the project remains the same. The contact person Tony Kanoli, Project Manager, Wara Mangani, Commercial area, P.O Box 674, Mendi, Southern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea (zip code - 251) Phone/Mobile: +675 71087556 Email: tonykanoli43@gmail.com

 

2. Project progress up to now

I. Project Implementation Action Plan The project was actually implemented as per the Agreement with all activities according to the actual project Implementation Action Plan. Most of these activities on the original plan or Grants Agreement have been achieved with all funds in the Project Account. Only a few activities need to be completed at the end or early on the 31st of October, 2022. The activities already have been successfully completed are as follows, • Conducting Awareness • Signed Land Usage Agreement • Land Preparation • Planting of 100 tree seedlings to support climate change with this project • Purchased certified seed potatoes and & Fertilizer bags -receipts • Transportation of materials to the project site • Training in Chemical uses/application • Planting of Seed Potatoes • Hilling & Spraying • Harvesting & Packing Currently working on the activities highlighted above and hopes to complete all project activities by September or in October 2022.

II. Bank Account The project was funded with a total of USD 3000 (exchange rate @ 3.50 equals PNGK 10, 400. 00. The project has its own bank with the Bank Of South Pacific (BSP) in Papua New Guinea. The Cheque book was not delivered on time for withdrawals until after a few withdrawals have done using the DEBIT FORMS. The project implementation phase started on the 1st of May 2022 and I had to do withdrawals to speed up the timeline. The Cheque Book arrived in early June 2022 and the remaining withdrawals were done using the Cheque book. Most Cheques have been drawn down without following the exact dates on the Implementation Action Plan or Cash Receipt. This is because all activities were booked with the country’s National General Elections and I had to speed up the Implementation phase of the project. Funds for this project account have been exhausted or spent and a financial report for the project to be submitted along with the Excel document provided by 24th July 2022.

III. Problems & Challenges The problems during the implementation of the project were as outlined below; • Extra money funds have been used during the project implementation phase • Country’s National General Election period that booked up the project activities timeline that requires early withdrawals for funds for activities. • Cheque Book for this project account has been delayed and that also affects the project implementation stage we used Bank Debit Forms to do withdrawals from the project account.

IV. Recommendation ➢ The Project should be more funding support to deliver a bigger and better Seed Potato Supply center to meet and cater to the high demand for seeds Potatoes by the high population growth and to reductions in poverty and improve living standards for women and girls in rural communities.

 

3. Project plan forward

I am very much sure that the project had completed all activities successfully according to the budget plan and timeline. I have just a few activities to wind up in the next two months before the final project completion report in October 2022.

 

4. Photos

KSHA Office

 

 

Project Awareness

 

Community Leaders Project Meeting

 

Community Leaders Signed Land Agreement

 

  Seed Storage House

 

Plots for Seeds 

 

Potato Seed Bags

 

Lunch at Work in field

 

 

Seeds Sprouts & Spraying