Import ban shows positive impact

 THE ban on imported vegetables last August had a positive impact on the people, especially those living in rural areas who survive on agriculture activities.

Toppy Sundu, programme coordinator of Individual Reform and Restoration Movement Inc  (IRRM), a community based organisation located at Womkama village in Gembogl district of Chimbu, said the Minister for Agriculture and Livestock had made a landmark decision, given that majority of the country’s population rely on agriculture.

Sundu said during the period of the ban, they have carried out a case study for Gembogl bulb onion farmers through  interview leaders’ comments and recommendations in general informal meetings and physical development which indicated that:

• RRM have built 21 of 100 house using income from their bulb onion produce; 
• parents have money to clothe and pay for their children’s school fees and also pay for their medical fees: and,
• Youth’s habit of drug consumption, home brewing, stealing, road blocks and other social disorder in the community have been substituted for vegetables farming.

“The decision on the ban has unfolded a new sense of direction and focus for rural farmers to actively participate in improving their life style and at the same time contribute towards nation building,” Sundu said.

“Unfortunately, farmers’ abused the opportunity by not being conscious of quality, quantity and consistency coupled with extraordinary price increase especially for bulb onions has caused the consumers (and retailers) to pressurise the Government to lift the ban and allow imports.”

However, he said the quality, quantity, consistency and high price should not be taken seriously, they were only temporary because of  El Niño and the ban imposed on imported vegetables came about the same time in August 2015.