PNG butterfly farmer seeks help getting product to market
19 November 2014
ISHMAEL PALIPAL
JOE Minghai is a keen farmer from Pihanawa Village in Bougainville’s Siwai District. He is a butterfly farmer and he is looking for a market.
Joe came up with the initiative in early 2012, deciding to farm different butterfly species. He started by planting about 200 flowering plants on his one and half hectare farm.
Six months later, he planted another 200 Evodia hortensis as host plants to enable the butterflies to breed.
Joe said he wants to find market in PNG and abroad. He also said that tourists or locals are very welcome to visit his beautiful butterfly farm at Pihanawa, but some kind of fee may apply.
After two years of farming, Joe said there are four main species: Papilo ulysus; birdwing; aegus and moths.
Meanwhile, he is expecting some 2,500 caterpillars and pupae to be maturing in the next six months. He plans to treble the size of the farm to about 4-5 hectares to accommodate more butterflies.
If anyone is interested or knows about the butterfly market, Joe can be contacted through Siwai Community Development Officer, Donald Komoiki, on +675 7056 4537 or by email at [email protected].
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