El Niño-induced dry conditions are disrupting food supplies from Mt Hagen to Port Moresby, a sweet potato (Kaukau) bag distributor told PNG SUN last Thursday, October 8, in Port Moresby.
Mary Embil, who has been in the business for over 15 years, said Highlands cabbage and taro supplies already stopped, limited sweet (Kaukau) and English potatoes available, and prices rising sharply.
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She confirmed the shortage on Thursday, October 8, at the Gerehu main distribution market.
“No supplies of cabbages, taro, and low supplies of kaukau and English potatoes,” she told PNG SUN.
Mrs. Embil said cabbage and taro supplies from Mt Hagen stopped about a week ago, while kaukau and English potato supplies were expected to stop by the end of December if the dry conditions continued.
The shortages are affecting the food supply chain from local farmers and distributors to retailers and consumers, leaving Port Moresby residents facing higher prices and fewer fresh food choices.
“We have low supplies transported, and prices have doubled,” Mrs. Embil said.
A 50-kilogram bag of kaukau that sells for K50 at a Mt Hagen supermarket now costs K150 before being resold for K280 at the main distribution centre in Port Moresby.
The price of a 50-kilogram bag of English potatoes has also risen from K150 in Mt Hagen to K350, before reaching K650 in Port Moresby.
“The fault of the price increase is the result of the El Niño-induced dry weather conditions. It is not by us,” she said.
Mrs. Embil explained that distributors had to increase prices to cover transportation and other costs involved in moving produce from Mt Hagen to Port Moresby, leaving them with limited profits.
She said the current conditions were among the worst impacts of El Niño her family had experienced, with farmers producing less food and distributors struggling to maintain supplies.
For years, her family has depended on selling bags of kaukau for its livelihood. With supplies declining, Mrs. Embil said they were now uncertain about how to support their large family.
She said they might consider other small business activities, such as renting out a store or raising chickens, but acknowledged that people had different skills and abilities.
Mrs. Embil warned that if fresh food supplies continued to decline, Port Moresby residents would face fewer locally grown food options and greater reliance on manufactured and stored foods.
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“I am praying for the El Niño dry weather conditions in PNG, and I believe Christians are praying,” she said.
She added that despite the challenges facing the country, she believed God had a plan for fellow citizens.