Dairy farm supports local farmers grow maize

Ilimo Dairy Farm has been working closely with partners at the Central province administration to provide seeds and advice to local farmers currently engaged in a maize outgrower pilot programme.
Maize is a component of feed for the farm’s dairy cows that produce PNG’s Ilimo Dairy products.
The dairy is a partnership between operators, agribusiness firm Innovative Agro Industry (IAI), Kumul Agriculture, and people of Central.
Chairman of IAI Ilan Weiss said: “We are providing seeds and extension support to farmers as part of the programme.
“Our visit on Dec 15 with Kairuku-Hiri MP, Peter Isoaimo, was to generate further awareness and directly engage with communities.
“Two-way engagement is a big part of what we do.
“Listening to the challenges local farmers are facing is important to developing outgrower models that empower communities and encourage participation from all members of the community.”
The team visited Daisama, Brown River, Taisiama village, Berere village and Kerea village, and registered farmers who want to participate in the new programme.
On Dec 23, Isoaimo joined the community at Daisama as they began planting their newly-ploughed fields for this year.
Kairuku-Hiri district is poised to be the first district in Central to supplement rural household incomes with cash from the Ilimo Dairy smallholder maize outgrower programme.
“We see great engagement and enthusiasm from the community,”Weiss said.
Central Province Woman in Agriculture representative, Mary Apa, said: “In Dasiama, almost 20,000 square meters (two hectares) have been ploughed and we are planting maize seeds.
“It takes approximately 120 days until harvest.
“We are literally planting the seeds for a prosperous 2019”.
Business development manager Gallit Tamir said: “We will begin to circulate the maize outgrower manual widely during the new year as our teams travel to more and more villages to conduct awareness on the maize outgrower programme.”