Economy tops Central’s new list

By LUKE KAMA
CENTRAL Governor Robert Agarobe says his priority will be to fight for economic independence of the people of the province.
In his maiden speech after swearing in as the governor and chairman of the provincial assembly, Agarobe said: “Economic empowerment of our rural subsistence farmers will be a priority of my government apart from the other plans we have.
“The provincial government will bring markets closer to our people by cutting high logistics costs to markets in Port Moresby.”
Agarobe said there were good land available in Central for commercial farming and local farmers would be empowered to transit from subsistence farming to commercial farming.
“The public servants will work with the subsistent farmers to grow a better crop and encourage them to upgrade them into farms,” he said.
“I know there will be challenges, but it is important to be smart to deal with these challenges.
“Our people have abundant time and land to develop and I want to move the market back to the village so when they harvest. the government will buy all their produce.
“This will stop our village people from depending too much on our working class who themselves have obligations and can now concentrate on building their families.
“Putting money into the pockets of villagers through commercial farming will make them financially independent.”
District government officers will go to the village and purchase the produce, transport it to warehouses in the district headquarters for sorting and quality control before transporting it into Port Moresby to be stored in bigger facilities and sold to industries and bigger markets,” Agarobe.
“The provincial government will provide support in terms of technical advice, funding, equipment and training,” he said.
“This will stimulate the local economy which in turn will increase the provincial government revenue through the collection of goods and services tax to fund development projects because Central province does not have a good source of internal revenue.”
Abau MP Sir Puka Temu expressed confidence in Agarobe as a successful businessmen and said his experience in the private sector was a bonus for the people of the province.