Company sets up potato buying point in Mt Hagen

THE Innovative Agro Industry (IAI) is also buying quality potatoes from farmers in Mt Hagen, to add to its Sirunki farm supply in Enga.
Chairman and executive director Ilan Weiss said potatoes grown by farmers were being purchased in tonnes for the French fries factory – an ambitious PNG import substitution plan.
“Since October 2019, the company is operating a buying point in the Hagen Market, buying potatoes directly from local farmers,” he said.
“We buy only potatoes that are suitable in size and quality.
“We are buying almost four tonnes daily at the Hagen buying point.
“We also buy in Enga through our farm in Sirunki and directly at the factory in Pangia.
“It’s a lot but not enough.”
Weisis said not all farmers could reach Pangia where the factory was located.
“Some find it easier to arrive at Hagen, so we opened a buying point there.”
The KUK chips factory in the Highlands has begun processing locally grown potatoes into French fries, as part of an ambitious import substitution plan to provide a market for local farmers, cut the price of frozen foods and save valuable foreign currency.