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By ZACHERY PER
THE once thriving livestock industry in the country is set to be revived
under the management of the Livestock Development Corporation (LDC).
LDC Board chairman Boniwan Polume and managing director John Akipe
initially made the move to revive the industry by revisiting and
identifying constraints that led to the eventual collapse of the
industry soon after 2000.
They revealed during a tour around some of the once thriving livestock
establishments and ranches in Eastern Highlands province recently.
LDC Board members Anton Benzamin (DAL Secretary), Dr James Kaiulo and Mr
Polume visited the Goroka Piggery, Goroka Abattoir, Zuguru Cattle Ranch,
Korofeigu Ranch and Menifo Sheep Research Station.
In an initial move for stocking, they purchased 200 cattle from a farm
in the Markham Valley, Morobe province, to stock the 500ha Zuguru Ranch
in Eastern Highlands province.
Mr Akipe said LDC was operating under an Act of Parliament to improve
the livestock industry including apiculture (bee) and aquaculture
(inland fisheries).
He said the new National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP) 2007-2016
required the new LDC to be in full operation by 2008, adding that they
are gearing towards this.
He said livestock was once a thriving business, especially in the
Highlands region before 2000, with beef cattle programmes in Sugu,
Baiyer River, CLTC Banz, Zuguru, BenaBena, Goroka Piggery, Hati and
Menifo as most of them had closed down.
Mr Akipe said LDC was currently pursuing a nationwide restocking with a
funding of K2.5 million this year.
 
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