Page 31 - IB Mar 2020

Developing agroforestry through renewable energy

Powering Papua New Guinea, Empowering Communities
POWERING PNG,
EMPOWERING for power generation toward a ‘post-coal’ future, stantial benefits and income streams – in particu-
As the world is moving away from fossil fuels
lar from ‘intercropping’.
COMMUNITIES Papua New Guinea (PNG) is looking for its own POWERING PNG,
options to power the country with clean, renew- EMPOWERING AGROFORESTRY
able and affordable energy. COMMUNITIES Intercropping is an agroforestry farming tech-
One of the companies working toward power- nique in which fruits and vegetables are grown on
ing PNG with renewable energy is PNG Biomass, tree plantations in between rows of trees. PNG
a renewable energy and sustainable development Biomass encourages communities to practice in-
project in the Markham Valley in Morobe Prov- tercropping on its tree plantations as a smart way
to farm difficult land, improve food security, en-
ince in PNG. This renewable energy project is de- SUSTAINABLE & RENEWABLE ENERGY
SUSTAINABLE & RENEWABLE ENERGY signed to power PNG with domestic low-emission PNG Biomass is a renewable energy and sustainable development
gage and empower women, and create substantial
biomass and solar power through a sustainable ru-
agricultural income streams.
In practice this involves PNG Biomass clear-
ral inclusive economic growth model that empow- project designed to power Papua New Guinea with up to 40MW
domestic low-emission renewable biomass and solar energy through
PNG Biomass is a renewable energy and sustainable development ers local communities. an inclusive economic growth model that empowers communities.
ing, preparing and planting leased areas of land
At the core of this renewable energy project
project designed to power Papua New Guinea with up to 40MW will be a 30MW biomass power plant that is inte- with tree seedlings. Once these specially designed
forestry plantations are established the land is
domestic low-emission renewable biomass and solar energy through grated with 16,000 hectares of dedicated, sustain- Local women selling cash crops grown on PNG opened to landowners to start planting cash crops
Biomass plantations in between the rows of trees
an inclusive economic growth model that empowers communities. able and certified forestry plantations as the fuel – a practice called ‘intercropping’. between the wider-than-normal rows of trees — a
practice encouraged and promoted by PNG Bio-
supply for the power plant. The Project is work-
ing on securing grant funding to establish, directly mass.
adjacent to the power plant, a 17 megawatt peak For many communities, land is often difficult
(MWp) solar PV farm with utility-scale battery to farm. Most land is of marginal quality, hard to
clear and expensive to
storage – which will create the ‘Ganef Renewable Agroforesty and silvopasture are key methods used by PNG prepare. Agroforestry en-
ables them to leverage the heavy machinery that
Energy Park’. Biomass to maintain the customary link between communities and
clears the land and the preparation done by PNG
Oil Search is the owner and operator of the land. Intecropping is a smart way to farm, improve food security,
biomass power plant and its dedicated fuel supply empower women, and create substantial agricultural income streams.
Biomass to improve soil quality.
plantations. The solar component is under consid- The cash crops grown, mostly by women, on
eration by the Australian Government and the Eu- the plantations is their own business enterprise –
ropean Union to receive grant funding. Solar farm often in addition to their existing village gardens.
assets will be owned by the country’s utility PNG Watermelons grown on PNG Biomass plantations PNG Biomass only sets planting guidelines to
in between the rows of trees.
Power, with PNG Biomass overseeing construc- ensure the small seedling trees are not affected,
tion, operation and dispatch of the solar farm. Al- besides that it is entirely up to the communities
together, the Ganef Renewable Energy Park will and women to run their intercropping businesses.
Agroforesty and silvopasture are key methods used by PNG provide the Ramu grid with up to 40MW renew- www.pngbiomass.com info@pngbiomass.com +675 475 8560
The best harvests and incomes are currently
generated from pumpkins, melons and cucum-
Biomass to maintain the customary link between communities and able energy. facebook.com/pngbiomass linkedin.com/company/pngbiomass
land. Intecropping is a smart way to farm, improve food security, COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION bers. The women report single harvest incomes of
around K3,000 from intercropping on areas small-
empower women, and create substantial agricultural income streams. What makes PNG Biomass unique is that it is A regular gathering of a local women’s group in the er than half a hectare. With around 400 families
Markham Valley with the stakeholder engagement
an energy project with true community participa- team from PNG Biomass to discuss the project, involved in small scale intercropping, each har-
tion. Throughout the Markham Valley, close rela- answer questions and address concerns. vesting twice a year, they are generating together
tionships with communities have been built since an increase in household income of K2.4 million
2011. Landowners participate actively in the Proj- a year – a number that communities themselves
ect by offering designated select areas of their land claim to be very conservative.
for development; areas that are infested with the The additional food crops produced through
exotic and invasive weed Samanea saman (rain intercropping are sold on markets in the Markham
tree) or lie fallow with Kunai grasses and are too Valley, but also taken up to the Highlands. Some
marginal or hard to farm or graze cattle on. women are also exploring ways to ship the crops
PNG Biomass actively engages landowners to Port Moresby. Communities assert local food
and communities to discuss the aims of the Proj- security has improved significantly with more
A dedicated PNG Biomass tree farm in the
ect and find ways to establish sustainable forestry Markham Valley fruit and vegetables available at the markets and
plantations with the participation of communities. higher household incomes generated, owned and
Not only do they participate by leasing parts of used by women to buy other foods from stores.
www.pngbiomass.com info@pngbiomass.com +675 475 8560 their land for plantation establishment, they also The incomes from intercropping also help with
school fees, medical bills and other family costs
facebook.com/pngbiomass linkedin.com/company/pngbiomass utilise a range of direct employment opportuni- that women generally look after.
ties – with many locals contracted to the Project
through community-owned business groups. This Today, there is a local productive agricultural
way the Project is creating significant and diverse economy slowly originating from the PNG Bio-
income streams. With men traditionally being the mass project in the Markham Valley. The Proj-
recipients of land rental payments, PNG Biomass ect’s aim of sustainable rural inclusive economy
is encouraging women to take advantage of spe- A stakeholder engagement and awareness session growth is already creating tangible extra incomes
with landowners and communities at Chivasing
cific business opportunities to also generate sub- village in the Markham Valley for local households.
Islands Business, March 2020 31