Rice supplier harvests first crop

By JUNIOR UKAHA
A RICE supplier yesterday celebrated its first harvest from its trial field in Lae.
Homestate Limited, the second biggest rice supplier and distributor in the country, celebrated the harvest at the Malahang industrial centre with guests, including Morobe Governor Kelly Naru, Kabwum MP Bob Dadae, Kumul Holdings Limited director Moses Maladina, Sir Nagora Bogan, Assistant Commission of Police Peter Guinness, Lae Mayor Koim Trilu Leahy and provincial agriculture committee chairman Michael Poane.
Homestate president Tony Wetwattana said the company decided to have trial farms to test the suitability of the soil.
He said they planted Jasmine and white rice last year. Wetwattana, a rice farmer from Thailand, said most of their rice sold in the country was from Thailand.
The company has trial rice programmes in Markham (Morobe), Baiyune (Morobe), Ukurumpa (Eastern Highlands) and Western Highlands.