Fresh vegetables from Kundiawa arrive for city residents

RESIDENTS of Port Moresby will have a lot of fresh vegetables to choose from following the first shipment from farmers in Kundiawa-Gembogl.
The first container of fresh vegetables from the foothills of Mt Wilhelm reached Port Moresby yesterday, after months of planning the Kundiawa-Gembogl agriculture cold supply chain.
The multi-million kina initiative led by Kundiawa-Gembogl MP William Onglo and the Fresh Produce Development Authority (FPDA) was supported by Prime Minister James Marape.
They are mostly onions and potatoes.
Witnessing the opening of the container yesterday were the Minister for Agriculture and Livestock John Simon, Minister for Health Jelta Wong, and Minister for Transport William Samb.
Onglo, the Police Minister, said there would be up to 40 containers in the yard to store the fresh produce brought into the city.
The yard at 8-Mile will become a central chiller storage facility.
“We have allocated K2.5 million for a warehouse and staff accommodation, and shopping facilities with construction to start,” Onglo said.
“It will take four months to complete in which time we hope other provinces will see how we can help each other.”
Simon said the idea was to encourage the people of Kundiawa-Gembogl to go into farming.
“Farmers are paid a good price for the vegetables,” he said.
He urged other districts to set up buying points and pay the farmers well.
Wong signed a memorandum of understanding (MoA) to provide seafood to the storage facility, which can be shipped back to the Highlands.
“This is an idea that other provinces should adopt and work together on.”
Samb said he would be looking into the partnership with Onglo for the fresh vegetables for Goilala district.