Farmer keen to be involved in Govt’s potato project

By PETER WARI
A FARMER in Nipa-Kutubu, Southern Highlands, is happy to be involved in the government’s potato project initiative.
Simeon Yandawei from the Poroma local level government has three hectares of coffee land, a piggery, inland fish farm and is also involved in horticultural activities.
He received two bags of potato seedlings distributed last month by the provincial government.
“I have been a farmer for many years and the crops I have been cultivating have no markets – only coffee, and it was hard work,” he said.
“I am happy that the provincial government will provide seedlings, insecticides, technical advice and transportation when it is harvested.
“I am now ready to go into potato farming,” he said.
Yandawei said awareness had been conducted around the province and people were ready to start potato farming.
Karinz local level government president Simon Tolpe said he supported the department of agriculture and livestock in conducting awareness on the project.
Acting provincial administrator Joseph Cajestan recently announced that the provincial government had allocated K10 million for the potato project and provided farmers with fertilisers, insecticides and vehicles.