Farmers’ rep calls on Govt to fix woes

THE Farmers and Settlers Association has called on the Government to address domestic issues which impact prices and cost of living, instead of blaming imported inflation.
Association president Wilson Thompson, responding to questions on the impact of fuel shortage on agriculture and food production, blamed “bureaucratic bungling” and lack of specific actions on the fuel issues, resulting in the disruptions to flights and road transport.
“We are concerned with the restrictions in flights to major ports and also trucking companies that serve the industrial and commercial hub of PNG,” he said.
“At present, our members bring in specialists and other workers in and out of Nadzab while agriculture and processed food and inputs are moved between the Highlands and sea ports.”
He said the increased production costs, delays, low productivity and additional charges would only increase the price of goods and services. “In the live chicken industry that has over 30,000 poultry farmers, many in the coastal provinces rely on air transport from Nadzab, airfreighted three times a week,” he said.
“The Government must address inflation, power disruptions, unnecessary state fees and charges, airport and wharf closures, power and communication outages that creates more costs to the country.”