Firm used K5 million to help farmers, says official

A LOCAL farmers marketing company, Simbu Farmers Marketing Ltd in Chimbu, had used K5 million from Department of National Planning and Monitoring last year to improve vegetable markets, says deputy provincial administrator Chris Mondo.
Mondo said with money, the marketing company had helped fresh produce farmers well with logistical support and building facilities in the six districts of the province.
“We deny media reports that the money was not correctly sourced,” he said.
“We are ready to support any team investigating the use of the K5 million from the public investment programme (PIP) last year. We are ready to help with evidence.”
Mondo said the marketing company wanted to clear any misinformation regarding the K5 million it secured under the 2021 PIP budget allocations through the Department of National Planning and Monitoring.
A local construction company, Niugini Machinery and Construction Ltd, claimed the K5 million Kundiawa town market re-development project was awarded to them following a submission to the department.
Mondo said marketing company was the only successful operating business arm of the provincial government. It was registered with the Investment Promotion Authority (IPA) in 2009.
“It was governor (Noah) Kool’s vision to set up the marketing company to help Chimbu farmers and the provincial government business arm grow,” Mondo said.
He said in August, 2014, after a PIP submission for K5 million was made by the marketing company to the department, there were regular follow-ups made until funding was made available in the Budget 2021.