K1mil spray tractor to improve farm productivity

By JIMMY KALEBE
Lae-based Mainland Holdings last Thursday announced the arrival of a K1 million John Deere boom spray tractor as part of its move to produce a large percentage of its own raw materials.
The boom spray will be put immediately to work at the Mainland’s Sasiang Farm in Markham Valley.
It will spray insecticides and weed killers as well as plant six rows of seeds at any one time during planting.
It will start spraying 1200 hectares of sorghum at Sasiang and expand to 6000ha by the end of 2020.
Mainland, being the largest producer of poultry and stockfeed in the country, intends to produce its own grain and vegetable protein requirements over the next three years.
Managing-director David Alcock said another K1 million harvester would arrive in April to prepare for the June harvest.
“This import replacement programme would save K100 million annually in foreign currency requirements and greatly improve the productivity of the business,” he said.
“Mainland Holdings has trained 10 people from the Sasiang Farm in advanced cropping techniques and has introduce the concept of outgrowers with farms at Atupan village, preparing to plant this month.
“This leads to the growth of SMEs through landowners’ participation and it is anticipated to grow to be a large part of Mainland’s future agriculture development.”
Alcock said results to date indicated a potential yield of 6000 tonnes of sorghum from the current 1200ha.
This will produce approximately 12,000 tonnes of finished stockfeed at significantly lower costs and greatly reduce Mainland’s forex requirements.