PNG woman finds golden grass to end poverty

In the suburbs of Goroka in Papua New Guinea's Eastern Highlands Province, housewife Zaka Abori grows mushrooms with the help of Juncao technology.

"Growing mushrooms with Juncao not only provides delicious food for my family, but also increases my income, which was the dream before the help of Chinese experts," said Abori, who has been using Juncao to grow mushrooms since February 2020.

Abori is among locals who have found a new way to lift themselves out of poverty. Using Juncao has helped her to earn an annual income of 15,000 kina ($4,240), which is seven times the average annual income of families growing coffee plants and vegetables in the surrounding areas.

In 2001, the first China-aided overseas Juncao demonstration base was founded in Papua New Guinea. Over the past decades, Chinese experts have been promoting and carrying out training and demonstration of Juncao technology used in mushroom cultivation and livestock breeding in the Eastern Highlands.

Juncao refers to a herbaceous plant that can be used as a culture substrate for the cultivation of edible and medicinal fungi, wrote Lin Dongmei, deputy head of the China National Engineering Research Center of Juncao Technology, in her introduction of Juncao technology on the United Nations' website.

The Juncao technology was developed by professor Lin Zhanxi of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University. Lin and his team have since introduced the technology to more than 100 countries and regions by conducting training courses on Juncao technology, constructing demonstration bases, and cooperating with related departments of the UN. This has also helped many countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative to be lifted out of poverty.

PNG newspaper Post Courier reported that the Juncao technology has been introduced to nine provinces and 17 districts in the country, benefiting more than 45,000 households.

"I know a few farmers who are making a living using this Juncao technology," Virginia Baunke, a student majoring in agriculture at the University of Goroka, said. "A model farm in the institution I'm studying at has already adopted this technology. Overall impression by locals using this technology is just awesome."

Abori said she will continue with mushroom growing and make it her career.

"I believe that with the help of the Chinese experts, poverty alleviation through the use of Juncao will not only be a success in Papua New Guinea, but also around the world," she said. "Thank you, Chinese experts!"