By JAMES KILA
HIGHLANDS farmers have been barred from selling their garden produce at the Madang market for at least four weeks.
It was understood that the authorities were unhappy that the market was often congested.
An urban local level government (LLG) councillor from Madang who requested anonymity said the ban was temporary to allow ‘things to be sorted out’.
He said farmers from Highlands tended to bring lots of bags of vegetables and other goods that took up a lot of space at the market.
“Sometimes the vegetables stay there for long periods and eventually rotting,” he said, adding that they would prefer the farmers bring only one bag into the market.
The National was unable to contact the Madang town management for comment.
The ban angered many fresh food vendors from the Highlands and in protest, will not sell their cabbages, potatoes, carrots and kaukau at the market.
Tanika Kronefa, who spoke on their behalf, said although they were informed of the temporary ban, it was still not proper.
He said he had been trading at the market for the past 25 years and had never encountered such a situation.
“This is not good,” he said.
He urged the MP for Madang, the governor for Madang and business houses to help resolve the situation or find an alternate spot for them to sell their vegetables.