Agency praises K3mil scheme

FRESH Produce Development Agency (FPDA) says the K3 million initiative that the Government has set up to help farmers freight their produce to the Port Moresby market is commendable.
General manager Mark Worinu said transport cost had been a big burden for farmers for decades and would remain a challenge in the agricultural supply chain in Papua New Guinea.
“FPDA welcomes the expressed desire from the Government to invest in the agriculture sector to grow the local economy,” he said.
“FPDA recognises the critical need for the Government to provide funding support to the transport segment of fresh produce supply chain.”
However, Worinu said this must not just be a reaction to the Covid-19.
“This must not be a knee-jerk reaction to the impact of the Covid-19 as a short term measure, but must be appropriately instituted as a government policy and continuously funded to support the growth of the infant fresh produce industry and agriculture sector at large,” he said.
“FPDA is the key government body tasked to promote the growth of fresh produce in PNG and would like to play the central role in coordinating and administering the policy initiative to achieve the intended purpose.”