Govt to boost project with K1mil

THE Government will contribute K1 million to establishing the Kurakakaul Abattoir and Ranch rehabilitation project in Rabaul, East New Britain, says Agriculture and Livestock Minister John Simon.
Simon made this commitment at the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Livestock Development Corporation (LDC), the East New Britain (ENB) government and Rabaul District Investment Corporation Ltd (RDICL) at Kurakakaul last Friday. RDICL is the business arm of the Rabaul development authority (DDA).
“We (Government) are here to support you (Rabaul and East New Britain) through signing this agreement and working with you,” Simon said.
“We want to revive the cattle industry in terms of cattle, sheep, goats and other livestock.
“We will also commit ourselves to reviving the abattoir and will put in close to K1 million to get it revived.
“We will need you (ENB government) and the Member (Dr Marat) to work with us.
“After the agreement is signed, we will send in officers, to start work immediately.
“We will bring in cattle and other livestock to be distributed to farmers, who will look after them, and sell them to the abattoir.
“We will build a stockyard for cattle.”
Simon said the Government had embarked on a similar project in Sialum, Morobe, where a stockyard would be built to buy cattle from local farmers.
He stressed that the agreement would not “gather dust” like previous agreements.
“I don’t want to sign this agreement only to have it gather dust,” he said.
“As soon as we sign the paper today, as of tomorrow onwards, there will be an officer here, working with you.”
A joint venture company will be established with RDICL to hold 51 per cent shares and DAL 49 per cent through LDC. LDC, as the relevant government agency that deals with livestock, will assist RDICL acquire land, develop, manage, expand and grow the Kurakakau Livestock and Cattle Ranch.
The ENB government will release land portion 16 and 1044 (portions of land where livestock facilities are located) in Rabaul (Kurakakaul) to LDC and RDICL for development purposes, rehabilitate and restock the abattoir and cattle ranch.