Buang farmers need vehicles to transport produce

By JUNIOR UKAHA

COFFEE and fresh garden produce grown in the Buang local level government in Bulolo, Morobe, cannot reach the Lae market due to transport problems. 

Villagers from Buang’s Mapos Two, which has a population of more than 1,000 people, 

said there were only two 

vehicles serving them.

Guse Palim said the two open-back vehicles could not carry much and were usually full by the time it reached the first villages in Buang.

“The road becomes slippery and impassible when it rains,” Palim said.

“Women walk a long distance to the road and wait for vehicles but most times they end up spending the night there because of no vehicles”.

And it is not uncommon to see road side camps at PMV stops where people who come from remote areas spend the night in the hope of catching transport early next day.

Mum Tai Awatang, who takes vegetables to the Lae market, said more vehicles were needed so that their produce could be sold and not left to rot.

Buang is about a four-hour drive to Lae city either through Mumeng or Gebensis and is the home of Bulolo MP Sam Basil.