By JAMES KILA
THE National Agriculture Quarantine Inspection Authority (NAQIA) has been challenged to provide surveillance to new agri-business farmers against pests and diseases.
National Department of Agriculture and Livestock Highlands regional director Mawe Gonape issued that challenge last Tuesday in Goroka.
He was addressing the function for the presentation of bee-hives and honey extractors to farmer groups in (Eastern Highlands province) EHP.
Mr Gonape said the interest in honey production in EHP is fast gaining momentum, especially amongst rural smallholder farmers.
“But pests and diseases affecting honey production should be made known to the farmers so that they could take extra precaution,” he said.
He added that with new agriculture business emerging in the country, more surveillance work should be done to counter the invasion of pests and diseases.
He added farmers should not be left unguarded against the diseases.
“They must be made aware of any pest or disease associated with the crop they are growing,” Mr Gonape said.
EHP is said to be the current leader in organic and disease-free honey production in the country.
The presentation of eight new honey extractors costing about K4,000 each is expected to greatly enhance honey production in the rural districts of EHP.
Chairman of the EH Honey Beekeepers Association Jonah Buka thanked the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) for donating five extractors; CUSO, one; and the EH Provincial honey-bee coordinator Tela Loie and former CUSO volunteers Peter Hardie and Kathleen Cooper for donating two.
The eight district bee-keeping clubs’ representative and president of the Unggai-Bena local level government Ivan Ano thanked CUSO, the EHPDAL and the EH beekeepers association for facilitating the delivery of the equipment to the farmers.
Mr Ano also thanked Mr Loie, Mr Buka and the technical officers for their efforts in spreading the knowledge of honey production to the rural people of EHP.