Logistics seen as biggest obstacle to the development of agriculture

Logistics remains the biggest obstacle to the development of agriculture in Papua New Guinea, says Innovative Agro-Industry chairman and executive director Ilan Weiss.
The Israeli company has been operating in PNG since 2011 developing advanced modern innovative agro industrial centres in PNG including the 9-Mile Vegetables Farm in Port Moresby, Koroba Layers Farm in Hela, Tari- Piwa Poultry in Hela, Sirunki in Enga, Ilimo Dairy Farm and Highlands Frozen Vegetables in Southern Highlands.
A chicken project in Tabubil, Western, will be launched this month while it is hoped that East Sepik will launch a cocoa project in the first quarter of 2018.
Highlands Frozen Vegetables – which specialises in producing French Fries – will be up and running by the end of this year.
Weiss told The National yesterday that the logistics of getting produce to market remained the biggest problem for both the company and the farmers of PNG.
“It’s always logistics in PNG,” he said.“That’s the main barrier.
“Any stuff from here to there, making the market available, is the biggest problem.
“If we just wait for infrastructure to fall from the sky, nothing happens.
“We have to come up with solutions. All the time the conversation is around challenges.
“Challenges are excuses for businesses. For the private sector, challenges are not relevant.
“Rome was not built in a day, so PNG will not be built in a day.”
Weiss said problems were within the supply chain.
Weiss said there was huge potential for agriculture in PNG.
“I think now is the time to invest in agriculture in Papua New Guinea. I think the potential is both for the domestic market and for the export market.”