District gets K600,000 for agriculture, farming boost

A SUM of K600,000 was presented to farmers at Pindiu station, Hube local level government, Finschhafen, Morobe, last Friday by Minister for Agriculture and Livestock John Simon who accompanied local MP and Minister for National Planning and Monitoring Rainbo Paita to the launching of several projects in the LLG.
The money was presented to the Finschhafen development corporation that would oversee the work in the LLG, with K200,000 subsidy for coffee prices, another K200,000 for cocoa, K100,000 for cattle farming and an additional K100,000 for fresh produce in seedlings and tools for women in Hube.
Simon told the villagers that in the past there was no good support from the Government but now it was focusing on go rural.
“We will support the work of coffee and encourage you to buy coffee at the price of K5 per kilo,” he said.
“We will work in partnership with the district development authority and the Hube LLG to set a buying point for coffee here at Pindiu station.
“Once the buying point is set, growers must not be paid less, but K5 and above as we will help support in subsidising the price through the Government’s price support programme.
“Transporting coffee out of here is not your responsibility.
“Your duty is to supply coffee, get paid and continue to farm and produce coffee.
“You are lucky to be in the village and be able to make money.
“We will continue to stand and support the people back in the villages.
“With price support, the Government wants to see 80 per cent of the price reaching those at the end of the value chain in the rural areas and buyers must pay farmers well.”