K220m palm project to create jobs

 By TONY PALME KIP

A MULTI-million kina agroforestry project is expected to create employment for thousands of people in Central.

The K220 million Yumu agroforestry project will start next year when the management of Arama plantations plant oil palm on 22,000 hectares of land in the grassland of Kairuku-Hiri district.

“As soon as we get the project guidelines from PNG Forest Authority, the first stage of the project will begin, employing 2500 local workers,” Arama managing director Joseph Sia said on Wednesday at Kuriva village.

“Our focus will be to develop the local economy and provide benefits for education, health, road and equal share of dividends to landowners.”

Anthon Poiya said the project would benefit young people, mothers and children at Kuriva Primary School.

“I think the project will stop us from gambling, drinking coffee punch and creating all sorts of inconveniences in the community,” Poiya said.

Kairuku-Hiri MP Peter Isoaimo said the local community must embrace this development and cooperate with the developers.

“It will help improve our schools and hospitals and money for these sectors will be saved and put to use in other areas. This project will start here (Kuriva) and ends at the border of Tolukuma in Goilala district.”

He said he had asked Goilala MP Daniel Mona to work with the developers “to ensure it is launched and gets off the ground”.