Mainland Holdings buys machines to boost sorghum harvest

By PISAI GUMAR
Mainland Holdings Limited in Lae had bought a million-kina sorghum crop-harvesting machine to boost production and reduce imported wheat for stock feed.
The John Deer-brand machine arrived on Tuesday for display at the agricultural innovation show held at the National Agriculture Research Institute in Bubia.
Mainland managing director David Alcock said the machine would be taken to Sasiang in the Wampar plains to begin a
800-hectare harvesting job next Monday.
“It is all about restoring confidence and trust in our government and citizens, including the shareholders who stock feeds that can be produced locally to minimise excessive import costs and increase production,” Alcock said.
Alcock said the machine also brought to the country technical skills and expertise in operating such equipment. Locals will be trained to operate them.
The machine is the third biggest in the fleet at Sasiang and Zifasing.
“The harvester is a very important equipment with a 40-foot-wide (12m) trailer with the capability to harvest 3500 hectares of sorghum crop annually to produce stock feed,” Alcock said.
The company has sorghum fields at Sasiang and Zifasing. The farming capacity is expected to increase in partnership with interested landowners in Markham and in the country.
The machine can harvest sorghum and soy beans plus other crops.
“MHL need more flat land along the valleys to grow more sorghum to sustain productions for the market,” he said.