Bad road affecting businesses

By CLARISSA MOI
BAD road condition along the Lae–Bulolo highway in Morobe has affected Zenag Chicken’s supplies and transporting of products to Lae, managing director Dr Phillip Leahy says.
He told The National that the road had been in serious disrepair for at least three years and only crisis maintenance had been carried when the road was closed.
Leahy said apart from the road being the farm’s only access to transport chicken feed, supplies and transporting finished products to Lae for distribution to parts of the country, it was the only access for people in Bulolo, Wau, Menyamya and Aseki townships, Hidden Valley mine and the PNG Forest Products.
“This is Zenag farm’s only access,” he said.
“All product goes down this road.
“It is the only road for the farm, Bulolo, Wau, Menyama, Aseki townships, Hidden Valley mine and PNG Forest Products.
“Until the Government is serious about maintaining a good, reliable road network, every PNG farmer, big and small, is a loser.
“We are talking about millions of kina a year in additional costs and lost sales.”
Meanwhile, the PNG Poultry Industry Association had also raised similar concerns that the slashed airline capacity had resulted in a shortage of breeding stock imported from New Zealand.
President Chris Prestwood said the industry was prioritising frozen chicken and table egg production to minimise the shortages in the retail sector.
“However, day old chicken supply has been affected,” he said.
“Poultry farmers are facing price pressure from increased feed costs and the depreciating kina.
“The commercial producers have absorbed a significant portion of these costs but minor price adjustments are expected.
“However, we do not expect retail prices for frozen chicken and table eggs to change significantly.
“We request the Government’s assistance to ensure that the breeding stock is prioritised on international and domestic Air Niugini flights to avoid future shortfalls.”