Highlands farmers want new market

By ELIAS LARI
SOME highlands-based farmers say their garden produce, worth thousands of kina, is going to waste because they now have no market to sell.
A farmers’ spokesman based in Kimil, Jiwaka, said yesterday they used to sell fruits and vegetables to the liquefied natural gas project developer, Exxon Mobil, and they had expanded production to meet the demand.
Farmers sold in bulk to suppliers with contracts to supply food and vegetables to Exxon Mobil camp sites at Papa Lea-lea, near Port Moresby.
But that changed some months ago when the developer started importing capsicums, broccoli, tomatoes, carrots and other vegetables.
Farmers were expecting suppliers some months ago to sell their produce but were advised that Exxon Mobil was importing fruits and vegetables.
“Now that Exxon Mobil is importing the same fruits and vegetables, we need a market to sell,” the spokesman said.
 “How can we benefit from the gas project?
Why has the government promoted and encouraged people to turn to farming?” he asked.
“We have the land and turned it into farming to make a good living through it but now the problem is there is no market for us to sell our produce.”
The farmers said the government must explain to the people what plans it had for people in the villages to benefit from the LNG project.
“It is costing the company (Exxon Mobil) to import from overseas while we can produce the same quality and quantity here.”
He said the situation saw many people lost interest in farming.
Money was now paid to foreigners and their companies instead of locals who were left to suffer.
“We want an explanation from the government and Exxon Mobil  why we are not and will not benefit from this project at all.”