Farmers must play active role: Worinu

Farmers must take part in major agriculture investments in the country, Fresh Produce Development Agency (FPDA) general manager Mark Worinu says.
He said that yesterday when welcoming Kumul Consolidated Holdings’ venture into investing in the agriculture sector, including fruits and vegetables.
“FPDA has always maintained that in any project intervention, a farmer’s interests must be factored into the equation,” Worinu told The National.
“As the vast majority of our population are farmers, they need to participate and benefit. That’s the only way the bulk of our people can be involved in the development of our country.
“While market opportunities are available that present a strong case for investors to come up with agricultural projects involving a few people, it does not directly benefit the majority of our people.
“The challenge is they will remain mere spectators in their own land, which places a challenge on responsible government agencies.”
Worinu said a case in point was the hydroponics vegetable projects outside Port Moresby and in other parts of the country.
“I don’t have any problem with the hydroponics project,” he said.
“My concern has always been that what our people can grow and supply to the available market and benefit directly is being challenged and marginalised in the name of impact projects.
“FPDA is not involved in the tropical fruit export development project.”