Corporation members tour cattle station

MEMBERS of the Livestock Development Corporation took a tour of the Sagalau Cattle Station in Madang last Thursday to see phase one of a three-stage rehabilitation project.
Being overlooked since independence with only agricultural commodities as the focus of the province, the corporation is now embarking on reviving the livestock industry.
From K1.5 million in funding, K900,000 has so far been spent on refurbishment exercises and maintenance work at the station.So far a road rehabilitation from the entrance into the abattoir has been completed at a cost of K25,000.Other works completed are fencing around the property, maintenance work to a staff house and the office building, which will house quarantine, corporation and provincial livestock offices and a hauswin.
Others still under construction and maintenance to be completed by the end of this month are a workshop and student dormitory. All these come under phase one of the project.
The abattoir maintenance and renovation works will start in phase two and is projected to be completed by December.Managing director John Akipe said the abattoir would be fitted with two cooling rooms and refurbished.
A visit to the eight-bed training centre showed a burnt down building that would also be rebuilt to teach interested students buffalo breeding programmes, stock management and animal husbandry.
A board meeting was held at the Madang Lodge last Thursday where board members, chairman Boniwan Polume, deputy Dr James Kaiulo, director George Minjihau, and former department secretary and director, Anton Benjamin and Akipe attended.