Factory brings market

A FOOD processing factory in Southern Highlands will benefit local potato farmers in the province as well as those in the nearby provinces.
Launching the first line of products from the facility in Port Moresby on Friday was the Kuk chips, locally made frozen French fries, which requires Highlands farmers to supply 80 tonnes of raw potatoes weekly.
The project is a joint venture partnership between the Southern Highlands government and Innovative Agro Industries (IAI).
IAI chief executive Lior Crystal said they were buying potatoes from local farmers from Southern Highlands, Enga, Jiwaka and other places.
“We even have a stall in Mt Hagen market purchasing three to four tonnes daily,” he said.
“We buy directly from the farmers.”
Southern Highlands Governor William Powi said the joint venture achieved the goals set by the government for the country’s agriculture sector.
“Potatoes are grown by the farmers and downstream processing is done in a world-class facility,” he said.
“It creates a market which means the creation of jobs and income opportunities for thousands of farmers in Southern Highlands and the Highlands.”
Powi challenged his people to farm the land and help build the provincial economy as well as the country.
Crystal said the project started in 2014 but the actual construction started two years ago.
“We’ve completed construction and we’ve ran trials for the past few months in the processing line to check all the potato varieties that are in the country which will be the most suitable for high quality products,” he said.
“What was launched today (Friday) is what will be released to the market in the coming weeks.
“We will gradually make sure that the initiative will reach every corner in the country.”
Crystal told The National that since this project was an equal joint venture between the Southern Highlands government and IAI, whatever the provincial government provided for the project, the IAI would also provided the same amount in investment.