Central farmers supplying cassava to Ilimo Farm

FARMERS in Central will be supplying the Ilimo Central Dairy Farm with locally grown cassava to help feed cows at the farm.
According to a statement from farm operator, Innovative Agro Industry (IAI), a shipment of cassava was also received from farmers in Namatanai, New Ireland.
Cassava is a calorie-rich starch and is one of the many native root plants like sweet potatoes (kaukau) and yams that have been cultivated in PNG for decades.
Cassava is used to make silage for the cows at the Ilimo Dairy Farm.
According to IAI, silage is a type of animal feed made from green foliage crops which have been preserved through a fermentation process.
After harvesting, crops are shredded and tightly packed in a large sleeve or silo.
After three weeks, the plastic film is opened and foliage crop that has been fermented can be fed to cows.
IAI chairman Ilan Weiss explained: “At Ilimo Dairy Farm, the silage is prepared from Guinea grass and sorghum that are grown on site and provide the protein, and grains such as maize (corn) to provide energy.
“The cassava provides good quality carbohydrates, meaning energy, and can replace the maize.
“We are gradually transforming the cows’ diets to be 100 per cent PNG made by adding cassava, whether as silage or as a dry additive.
“Cassava – or tapioca starch – is used all over the world for animal feed, so in line with our mission statement to be PNG self-sufficient, we employed our R&D (research and development) capacities to produce quality feed with locally grown ingredients like cassava that our out-growers are well versed in growing.
A well-fed cow makes quality milk, and it is the cow’s palate that we need to please, and the cows love it.”
In Central, the cassava will be supplied through Aila Aniani Ltd Corporation, a business arm of the provincial government established to work in line with achieving the Governor Robert Agarobe’s policy to bring the market back to the communities.