The Papua New Guinea ‘Eastern Highlands, Women in Agriculture’ association call for greater assistance with getting produce to market

The ‘Eastern Highlands, Women in Agriculture’ association, from Goroka in Papua New Guinea are trying to publicise to stakeholders of the agricultural sector that large quantities of agricultural produce are not reaching markets, due to high transportation costs, poor road infrastructure, law and order problems and lack of storage facilities.

In a recent speech at a rural development workshop held in Goroka, Mille Kako, President of the association, informed attendees that the issue of produce failing to reach markets is frequently overlooked by the Government of Papua New Guinea and agricultural experts working in the field.
 
Mrs Kako stated that it will be necessary to address this issue if economic growth targets are to be achieved and suggested that measures to do so should include the establishment of storage facilities in major towns and the provision of refrigerated containers to transport produce from remote areas to these storage facilities.
 
She also suggested that the Government appoint a company to manage such storage and transportation facilities and that a subsidised payment scheme for users of the service be implemented.  Mrs Kako believes that this would encourage participation in the agricultural sector, increase employment opportunities and create income generating activities.

Finally, Mrs Kako urged the Government to invest some of the 100 million Kina, that has been set aside for expenditure in the agricultural sector in Papua New Guinea over the next ten years, on subsidising transport costs for highland farmers; thereby enabling them to more successfully sell their produce in other towns in the country in future.

Article Source:                                                                                                                              PNGDEV NEWS e-newsletter, funded by ATprojects Inc.
Contact:  atproj@online.net.pg