Fresh produce farmers in Mt Hagen, Western Highlands province, have warned that current market harvests may be their last.

William Pupti, a vegetable farmer from Kelam village in Hagen Rural Local Level Government (LLG), outside Mt Hagen City, stated that they were unable to plant new crops due to ground that had dried up with no water to tend new crops.

Mt Hagen City market is set to run low on vegetables and fresh produce in the coming days, affecting supply chains to other parts of the country including Lae, Madang, and Port Moresby.

This, on the other hand, will also affect roadside vendors who depend on black market sales as well as commercial sectors such as hotels, restaurants, public institutions, and others who depend on fresh produce from the highlands region.

Mr. Pupti expressed concerns that he solely depends on his farm to earn income for his family and built his livelihood and home entirely on commercial farming.

Meanwhile, a community representative of the Jika Komapi community at Kelam, Andrew Kunjil, has called upon all relevant authorities especially Mt Hagen Open District Development Authority (DDA), Western Highlands Provincial Government, and National Disaster Office to assist with the restoration of the village’s water supply.

He noted that children currently lack clean water to wash before attending school and warned that groundwater supplies will dry up entirely within weeks.

Moreover, the local water supply that serves approximately 800 residents, has also dried up as they currently rely on remaining groundwater sources, which are rapidly depleting and visibly contaminated, yet they have no alternative options.

Community leaders report that no assessment teams from the Provincial Disaster Office or related agencies have visited the affected areas to evaluate the El Niño impact.

Prompt institutional relief focused on restoring village water supplies remains urgently needed to prevent further economic damage and public health hazards.