Agency establishes project management unit

A project management unit has been established by the Fresh Produce Development Agency (FPDA) for market project for farmers in six provinces.
General manager Mark Worinu told The National that the market project was in the administrative phase.
“The project is rolling and we have just established the project management unit,” he said.
“We will have to get some more people on board.
“The actually implementation of the project will be done towards the end of the year and into next year.
“We are currently dealing with internal arrangements.”
A total of K85.5 million was secured for the market project.
Part of it will be used for the galip nut industry.
“A technical feasibility study will have to be carried out before that part of the project is implemented,” Worinu said.
“Before the galip nut component comes into implementation, we will need to do a technical feasibility study in-order to have a business case.
“After that we will see how we can best support the gulip nut component especially in East New Britain and also look at what’s being done in the current environment.”
The FPDA welcomed bmobile and Telikom’s decision to lower their internet rates because it will allow people to access the new digital application called Farmis (Fresh Produce Advisory Resource and Market Information Services).
“Farmis is a very important digital platform that we have launched and we will have to get that implemented as soon as possible,” Worinu said.
“Now that the rates are cheaper there will be a real opportunity for farmers to be able to make use to the cheaper rates and the technology.”