Lifting of ban worries farmers

 By ERIC BALARIA

FARMERS in Chimbu have raised concerns on the partial lifting of the ban on vegetable imports into the country.

Spokesman Tobby Sundu said the recent announcement by Agriculture and Livestock Minister Tommy Tomscoll was a “slap in the face”, especially for bulb onion farmers in Gembogl who had a surplus supply rotting away in their warehouses.

Tomscoll partly lifted the ban to address the acute shortage of capsicum, tomatoes and onions in shops and supermarkets.

Sundu said the decision was only focused on the consumers.

He said the production of bulb onion in the area was big, with farmers producing more than five tonnes of bulb onions per week. 

Most of the onions are kept in warehouses to await buyers, Sundu said. 

He said there was no support provided to farmers to sell their farm produce. 

Farmers  had to pay more than K200 to bring their produce to the markets.

The onions cost K120 per 35-kilogram bag from the farms.

“This is increased to K150 when transported down to Kundiawa and Goroka for distribution,” he said. 

“They are now rotting away because we can’t bring them to the main market”

Agriculture Minister Tommy Tomscol imposed the ban on imported vegetables in August, to encourage local farmers to grow and sell their own vegetables.