Agency buys vehicles to improve market access

By ZACHERY PER
THE Fresh Produce Development Agency (FPDA) has purchased a fleet of seven vehicles to boost its “market for village farmers” rollout in the four highlands provinces, Morobe and East New Britain.
According to Market for Village Farmers project manager Robert Paruruman Lutulele, the targeted provinces would receive one vehicle each.
The targeted provinces are Western Highlands, Jiwaka, Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, Morobe (as there is road linked to Lae seaport for vegetables) and East New Britain for galip nut production and marketing.
Lutulele said the project, which will cost K85 million to implement, was aimed at assisting up to 25,000 farming households.
“Market for village farmers is all about linking farmers to markets, to address the issue of many farmers are producing crops but are not closely linked to the markets,” he said.
He said the project had a life span of six years, one year had lapsed with five more to go, including this year.
“In a space of five years, we should link 25,000 farming households in PNG to markets,” he said.
“The vehicles are to address the issue of transportation to secure vegetable cool storage facilities, packaging and address every aspect regarded as challenges in this value chain.”
The project is funded by the Government, International Fund for Food and Agriculture (Ifad), and targeted districts and provinces.