ENGAGING IN AGRIBUSINESS TO SUPPORT LIFE AFTER TRIBAL FIGHTING

By Mortimer YANGHARRY
The DepSikin Cooperative Society of the Dep and Sikin Tribes, living in Aiyel Valley along the border of the Wabag and Wapenamanda districts of Enga Province, is venturing into poultry and egg laying as a means of financially supporting its members after the area was severely affected and lives displaced after years of tribal fighting.
DepSikin Cooperative Society Spokesperson Benny Wais said that he has ventured into poultry and egg laying by breeding egg layers.
He mentioned that the effects of tribal fighting were severe and urged his people to work hard to rebuild their lives accordingly.
He plans to expand his poultry business and increase the breeding of egg layers to increase production daily.
The Wabag District Development Authority ( WDDA) has already connected this area by road into the main Highlands Highway with connection of electricity ongoing focusing on work completion within this year where electricity will light up the valley for the first time since time immemorial.
Some parts of the Aiyel Valley were involved in the deadliest Wapenamanda tribal fighting which claimed hundreds of lives and millions of kina worth of properties were destroyed but ceasefire was negotiated last year and peace talks going on.