THE PRIDE IN OUR LAND

Willie Kaeaka could have chosen to work in an air-conditioned office in Port Moresby’s Central Business District as an accountant. But he chose to follow his heart. He became a farmer instead. In his 20s, he gathered the courage to start a farm which grew watermelons. Now he grows a variety of produce like pakchoy, aibika, beans, and cucumbers and supplies to Stop & Shop on a regular basis. The journey hasn’t been easy, yet it is very satisfying.

“I completed my graduation at the Pacific Adventist University and was weighing my options. I was very clear that I have to create value for my community and farming seemed the way to go. I started with 4 farm-hands and now employ a work-force of 20. It was an experiment – a trial and error method – that’s how I learnt about agriculture and farming techniques. There were mistakes but also a great deal of learning”