3 hour hail storm destroys crops - food shortage emergency

[ensho]

http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/index.php?smp=&lang=eng


More than 1,000 people from Koibuga 3 and 4 in Dei district, Western Highlands, were hit by a hailstorm last Monday afternoon. The hailstorm began at 4pm and ended at 7pm destroying food crops. The villagers were concerned because of the football-size-like ice sitting on top of potato and kaukau gardens could kill the crops. Older people in the village told The National during a tour that this was the second time a hailstorm had struck the village. The first one was in 1998. Community leader Chris Wak said the cost of the damages was not known. He said after they properly assessed the damages, they would work out the cost of the damages. Mr Wak said the hailstorm also destroyed three big fish ponds in Koibuga 4. He said the people now live on remaining food found in their gardens but after two to three weeks their food crops would die. Meanwhile, potato grower Roselyn Wiri told The National about 600 potato farmers were also suffering from the hailstorm. She claimed she was depending on potato for her income during the last seven years but now she faced a big blow after the hailstorm destroyed her potato garden.

Mrs Wiri, who claimed to represent potato farmer in Koibuga 3 and 4, said that all the hard work put in by the farmers was just wasted. She said that Western Highlanders were aware that Koibuga area was well known for growing quality potatoes and supplying to the province, Lae, Port Moresby and other centres around the country. She said that one 50kg bag of potato could be sold for K300 in the local market. Mrs Wiri said she spent over K12,000 to plant almost one hectare of potatoes and expect to harvest 200 bags and could have earned K60,000. Provincial department of primary industries officer Steven Nindipa ,who visited the affected site yesterday, expressed grave concern. Mr Nindipa said many root crops would die after some weeks and this would affect villagers living in Koibuga 3 and 4.)
------------------------------


and the price of oil a barrel will drive up the price of gas that will bring food replacements. maybe.

[cliss]

1. Hi ensho, where was this hail storm?

I'm not sure where the Koibuga area is.

I'm an exporter of Ag products, so it would be interesting to know.
Thankx.

[Mabus]

2. Papua New Guinea

I'm not ensho but I could answer your question.

[TahitiNut]

3. Papua New Guinea

:shrug:

[ensho]

4. sorry, Papua New Guinea

nt