Basil was farmers’ friend, true supporter of agriculture business: President

THE late Deputy Prime Minister Sam Basil was a true supporter of farmers and agriculture business in the country, Farmers and Settlers Association president Wilson Thompson says.
Thompson said Basil once described the Department of Agriculture (DAL) and Livestock breeding and research stations as the seed and food bank of PNG.
He worked with DAL, Farmers and Settlers Association and PNG Apiculture Industry Association and Beekeepers Association to promote agriculture in Bulolo, Morobe, and PNG.
The farmers of PNG, including various associations, acknowledged Basil’s contribution as Bulolo MP and later in his contribution as minister in various portfolios.
“Many do not know that he was able to shift goats, sheep and cows, bee and citrus and lemon and coffee seeds from DAL Research Stations in Eastern Highlands to Bulolo,” Thompson said.
“We can see results such as Bulolo Honey and Coffee that are packaged and sold around PNG.”
He said Basil, through the Bulolo development authority, funded the PNG Coffee Forum in Goroka and also encouraged dialogue with Lae and Bulolo Chamber of Commerce and Industry, including coffee cooperatives in Bulolo.
He pushed for the Bulolo Forestry College (BFC) to reopen and wanted to create a pathway between the Buang Agriculture Secondary School and University of Technology forestry and agriculture programmes to be taught at BFC.
He pushed for freight and shipping subsidies for fresh food farmers. “As member of the National Research Institute Council, Basil pushed for research into food security, food prices and agriculture and rural industries.
He travelled over Morobe and the Highlands promoting agriculture.
“He loved bees, citrus and goats that you see at his Buang and Mumeng homes,” Thompson said.