A team from Diponegoro University (UNDIP) in Indonesia, together with a farmers’ group, carried out the first harvest of water spinach and red spinach on 12 October at a demonstration garden in Senggi, Keerom regency, Papua.
The plot, of about 200 square metres, is used to show in practice how to grow chillies, upland rice, mustard greens and other vegetables in an area settled by families from other parts of the country.
The garden has sprinkler irrigation and was fertilised with compost made from farm waste about a month before harvest. The aim is for local farmers to repeat the techniques in their own fields.
