Farms need quality seeds

The National Farming

HAVING access to good quality seeds and planting materials that are affordable and available for consistent farming is still a major challenge for the fresh produce industry, according to the Fresh Produce Development Agency 2016 annual report.
The report said seeds and planting materials were important components of the vibrant and sustainable value chain system.
“Therefore, this programme liaises with existing input suppliers and other service providers through networking and partnership.” it said.
“(This is) to ensure seeds and planting materials of all crops of commercial significance are readily available and easily accessible by farmers.
“Another important role of the programme is to collect relevant information on seeds and make this available for informed decision-making by input suppliers and growers.
“The programme facilitates Irish Potato seed information through the elite seed potato programme.”
In 2016, FPDA:

  • Partnered with four agro-chemical agents to supply inputs to producers in Chimbu and Bulolo in Morobe who supply major fresh produce wholesale aggregators in the respective localities;
  • Established and continued to maintain five germplasm collections of which three were for pineapple.

Two of these were located in East New Britain and one at Sogeri in Central; and

  • Reached a mutual understanding with Department of Agriculture and Livestock for FPDA to maintain the rich collection of citrus at Menifo in Eastern Highlands.