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The Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority (TPA) sponsored K10,000 towards the 3rd Jimi Marita Festival held at Karap Primary School in Middle Jimi, Jiwaka Province on Thursday 16 January celebrating the region’s unique cultural identity and the traditional superfood, Pandanus Conoideus (Marita).
TPA’s sponsorship supported the successful hosting of the event, which highlighted the cultural and health benefits of Marita. The National Agriculture Research Institute’s (NARI) research scientist Jonah Anton, spoke extensively about the significance of Marita.
“While Marita is not currently a priority crop for NARI, we have identified 16 species in Jimi, with the total across the province exceeding 20. It’s a vital food that is now gaining the recognition it deserves. Marita is a powerhouse of nutrients with incredible health benefits. It contains three key chemicals that make it a valuable food source: Carotene, which is essential for improving eye health; Tocopherol, a potent antioxidant that supports overall well-being; and Omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids, which are vital for heart health and brain function. These nutrients highlight why preserving and promoting Marita is so important for both our culture and our health. Preserving Marita is crucial as it’s a dying food, and its nutritional value and cultural importance cannot be overstated,” said Anton.
Marita Festival’s Chairman, Gabbi Apainga expressed his gratitude for TPA’s support.
“We are deeply thankful to TPA for their generous sponsorship. Their involvement ensures the success of this festival and helps shine a light on the cultural importance of Marita,” said Apainga.
Jiwaka Provincial Administrator, Rick Kogan commended both the organizing committee and TPA.
“I applaud Mr. Apainga and his team for orchestrating such a successful event. TPA’s commitment to preserving our culture through initiatives like this festival is truly commendable,” said Kogan.
During the event, SME and local producers and suppliers of Marita-based products, John and Lorin Kisan, shared their journey and vision.
“We officially registered our business this year, but we’ve always had a passion for Marita,” said Mr Kisan.
Mrs Kisan added that the production of Marita products helped the local communities.
“With the high cost of imported foods, especially oils, our Marita products—including oil, soup, and stock feed for pigs—provide a convenient and affordable option for local communities,” said Mrs Kisan.
A highlight of the festival was a ribbon-cutting ceremony, symbolizing the partnership established last year through an MOU signed between TPA and the Jimi District Development Authority. This officially launched TPA’s annual commitment to support the Jimi Marita Festival, ensuring its continuity and growth.
TPA CEO Eric Mossman Uvovo commended the organizing committee for their efforts.
“The success of this festival is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the organizing team. TPA is proud to support such initiatives that celebrate and preserve our unique cultural heritage, especially Marita and promote agritourism for the district,” said Uvovo.
📸 Thumbnail Caption (Left to right) Representative from the office of the Minister of Tourism, Arts & Culture, William Lappa, Jiwaka Provincial Administrator, Rick Kogan, TPA’s Executive Officer to the CEO, Fred Pennington and Jimi Marita Festival Chairman, Gabbi Apainga during the official ribbon cutting to launch TPA’s annual commitment to the festival.
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Left to Right: Department of Agriculture & Livestock Secretary (DAL), Dr Sergi Bang with the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority’s (TPA) CEO, Eric Mossman Uvovo during the signing of the MOU between TPA and DAL in Port Moresby.
The Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority (TPA) and the Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL) have entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop agritourism in Papua New Guinea.
The MOU signed on Thursday 27 June in Port Moresby, marks a step towards utilizing the country’s rich agricultural heritage to boost tourism and forge a partnership between two key economic sectors of PNG.
Key objectives of this collaborative effort include the development of a National Agritourism Policy, to guide investment and establishing agritourism pilot projects in the Eastern Highlands, Milne Bay, East New Britain, and Morobe Provinces.
TPA’s CEO, Eric Mossman Uvovo said that Agritourism Steering Committee (ASC) and Agritourism Technical Working Group (ATWG) will be subsequently formed to guide the implementation of the MOU between the two parties. In addition, it is most likely that the committee will expand in the future to make room for relevant stakeholders who are involved in the space such as Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Fresh Produce Development Agency (FPDA), to ensure a sustainable and inclusive agritourism sector is developed.
“Agritourism is an emerging niche tourism product that has great potential; the concept of agritourism provides an opportunity for local farmers such as Honey Bee producers, trout fish farmers or coffee growers, for example, to develop tour itineraries that are centred around their commodity or cash crop. By doing so, it provides local farmers the opportunity to develop a tour package that proudly showcases the farm site, process from raw material to a finished product and allows for branding of local PNG products or local dishes and cuisine.
The MOU partnership with DAL will provide the policy and planning advisory support and co-financing of an integrated work plan, we are setting the foundation for a sustainable agritourism sector. This collaboration will ensure that we harness the full potential of our agricultural and tourism resources to drive community empowerment, economic growth and cultural preservation,” said Uvovo.
Left to Right: Department of Agriculture & Livestock Secretary (DAL), Dr Sergi Bang with the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority’s (TPA) CEO, Eric Mossman Uvovo during the signing of the MOU between TPA and DAL in Port Moresby.
It is anticipated that following the endorsement of the National Agritourism Policy, the parties will work together to facilitate investment in the agritourism sector. This includes the development and marketing of existing agritourism products to create niche markets and attract tourists.
The Secretary for the Department of Agriculture and Livestock, Dr. Sergie Bang, has hailed the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority (TPA) as a significant milestone for the agriculture sector. He emphasized that the collaboration aligns with the newly launched National Agriculture Sector Plan 2024-2033, which aims to transform subsistence farming into commercial farming and entrepreneurship.
Dr. Bang noted that agritourism development will play a crucial role in achieving these objectives by providing additional revenue for farm owners and strengthening self-sustaining, resilient communities.
During the event, Dr. Bang highlighted the shared commitment to facilitating regional consultations and comprehensive stakeholder engagement in the policy formulation process. By collaborating with relevant agencies, the partnership aims to efficiently achieve the MOU’s objectives and drive the transformation of the agriculture sector to empower healthy and prosperous agricultural communities.
The MOU is set for an initial period of three years, setting the stage for a path to harness Papua New Guinea’s agricultural potential to boost tourism. Through this partnership, both TPA and DAL are committed to developing a vibrant agritourism sector that will contribute significantly to the country’s economic development.
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