When you are in a place that is remote and animal protein is scarce an alternative is an option. Peanut is a legumous plant and is grown widely in Morobe Province. Tonguboc villagers have adapted this vital crop. Peanut is flourishing due to its taste and for snacks. The villagers cultivate big plots of peanut during the growing season annually. It is either planted on its own plot or mixed crop plot. The plant grows for approximately four months. At the end of the fourth month it is prepared for harvesting. The legumous plants is uprooted and left under the sun for dry for a day or two. The picture shows Tonguboc villagers harvesting peanut at Zapeng area. The leaves are trimmed, bagged and taken to the village for further drying in peanut houses for another day or two. Ropes are used to fastened the trimmed peanuts or what the locals call "bundled". The ones which are not bundled are sometimes milled to be prepared for other local dishes. Others are eaten without processing depends on the preference. The bundled ones are normally sold for cash. This is the villagers main casher earner. Normally the peanuts are sold at the Pindiu market. Some even bagged the peanuts in 60kg juke bags are take them to market in Lae city which is the provincial head quarters of Morobe.
Peanut has an economic impact to the villagers. It helps to pay childrens school fees, clothes, toiletries, fuel for light and many other expenditures. Tonguboc villagers treasure peanut so much. Health wise it has supplimented the protein diet.
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