Basil wants farmers to be serious with scheme

The National Business

NATIONAL Planning Minister Sam Basil says the freight subsidy scheme initiated by the Government is for those serious about trading fresh farm produce.
Basil yesterday paid K3 million to Bismark Maritime Ltd for the shipment of fresh produce from Lae to Port Moresby.
He was responding to concerns raised by fresh produce traders in Port Moresby who had been receiving damaged produce from Lae in the past four month.
“Those who want to benefit from this scheme have to be serious in what they do,” Basil said.
“We are giving free containers.
“We had people who have never transported vegetables before jumping into the scheme.
“They were not careful about how they should handle the produce.
“This resulted in fresh produce damaged or rotten on arrival.
“There are hard lessons to learn if they have not engaged in such arrangements before.
“Lessons like timing, from harvest to shipment to the intended destination.
“Those factors must be minimised as much as possible so that the freshness of the vegetables remains until it reaches the consumer.
“We want people who know this business to be engaged in this because in the event when the fresh produce turns bad, they will still to blame the Government regardless.
“That is why I am now appealing to those who will be benefiting from this subsidy to at least know what to do with the produce you will be sending.
“I want people who are serious.
“Those who know how to look after them, pack them and send them.”

4 comments

  • This is a very good scheme the Govt has introduced, but as the Minister has said, only those who are serous and has the hands on experience in the fresh food marketing Industry should be involved. Keep up the good work action Minister Basil.

  • Minister is overstepping his roles. I thought he replace the Minster for agriculture. Our ministers ate talking all over the place not respecting each others ministerial roles and responsibilities. Get rid of acting ministers in 2022.

  • The richest black nation, take back PNG not for only limited number of people to get benefit, influence and create wealth for themselves. Let alone the FPDA and Depart if Agriculture handle this. Training in terms of harvesting packagings, handling , transportation helping those newly interest in persevering the quality of their produces. I think the FPDA have capacity to handle that so if the government is seriously why come up with half back program and initiatives, here today and gone tomorrow programs.

  • The answer to garden produce going bad during shipment is for the shipping firm to provide cool temperature containers, simple as that.

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