Five co-operatives launched in Central

Business, Main Stories
Source:

SHARON E BARNABAS

WOMEN farmers from Central province were all smiles when the Central Women in agriculture Co-operative Society for each of the five districts was launched by the Department of Commerce and Industry in Port Moresby last Friday.
The co-operative society unit of the department gave K2,000 seed capital to each society during the launch to assist with the initial purchase of the seeds.
Women from the five districts of Central province gathered at the ceremony hosted by the Central provincial DAL.
Registrar for the cooperative societies Joseph Ingipa, when launching the societies, said this was an ideal vehicle to drive the Government’s policy of enhancing rural enterprise development.
“The societies are also embracing the policies of rural development, poverty reduction and people’s empowerment.”
Mr Ingipa said the K2,000 for each of the co-operatives is only a Government assistance.
However, there is K1.5 million available for borrowing and urged the registered societies to access such funding to boost their farming activities.
Adding onto Mr Ingipa’s words, Central province administrator Raphael Yibmaramba said: “Women are good accountants and managers and I believe that they will succeed in what they are trying to do … I urge them to work hard on their land.”
The members of the five societies expressed appreciation for the seed money and said they would use it to buy seeds for the registered farmers.