Farmer sees big money in spice business

By ZACHERY PER
THE country has the potential to produce 6000 tonnes of spice products, generating K100 million annually, according to spice farmer Sakarias Ikio.
After spending years in the spice industry, Ikio said spice could generate revenue similar to coffee and other cash crops.
He has his spice farming project at Masuma village in the Unggai-Bena district of Eastern Highlands.
He plans to have 25,000 smallholder spice farmers and plantations by 2030 to produce 6000 tonnes annually and generate about K100 million for farmers.
“Spices are alternative cash crops that include chilli, ginger, turmeric, cardamom, cumin, coriander, mint, pepper, cava, nutmeg, vanilla and saffron. They are high-value products that have lucrative markets around the world,” he said.
Ikio said researches he made concluded that demands for spices such as turmeric, ginger, cardamom and chili in Asia, European Union and America was growing every year. “The potential for production and export is very high here in PNG but it has been stagnant over the past 40 years,” he said.
“The Highlands region needs alternative cash crops to support coffee at this time.”
He said despite numerous efforts by individuals to develop spice production, the lack of direction, coordination and monitoring by the PNG Spices Industry Board (PNGSIB) killed the industry.
“There has been funding provided by the Government on certain occasions to the PNGSIB but nothing tangible has been achieved or delivered by the board,” he said.
“For instance, in 2011, K2 million was provided to the PNGSIB but there is nothing to show for it.”
Ikio has set up spice production sites at Masumave, Bena Bridge and Saeo villages in the Unggai-Bena district, plus Kopika, Kabiufa, Akameku and Fimito villages in the Goroka district, and the Abunamo Primary School in Obura-Wonenara district.
He said his first product shipment of raw chilli pods to Paradise Foods Limited was in 2016. He then went into downstream processing in September 2017.
Ikio is now supplying products to Papindo Supermarkets around Goroka town, Bintangor Supermarket, Goroka Food Mart, Ground Zero Supermarket LTD, ZAD Trading and Aponien Coffee shop.
He also supplies hotels and catering service providers in Goroka like Pacific Gardens Hotel, Red River Lodge, Diwai Hut Lodge, UOG Restaurant, 92 Ends Restaurant.