Firm increases payment of produce to encourage farming

Business

By MICHAEL LAI
Israeli company Innovative Agro Industry (IAI) in Enga is buying carrots and bulb onions at K2 per kg, project supervisor Aimos Joseph says.
Joseph said the company, based at Sirunki in Lagaip-Porgera, had previously been buying potato at K1.80 per kg. He told The National the aim was to encourage local people in the district to farm their land and earn an income that would support them.
“We buy dried bulb onion and fresh carrots after two hours of harvest,” Joseph said.
“This is to maintain their quality before sending them out of the province.” He said farmers needed to do crop rotation to sustain their level of income.
“They should do crop rotation where you plant one crop after the harvest of another on the same plot of the land,” Joseph said.
“This will continue to give them a sustained income.
“This will maintain their farm as well.” Joseph said the project was an initiative of Enga government to create income-earning opportunities.
He said tapping into the market would stop them from expecting free handout from MPs.
Joseph urging people in the five districts of Enga to shift into farming to create their own wealth.