Maru pleased with Trukai study

YANGORU-Saussia MP Richard Maru has hailed Trukai Industries Ltd for conducting a feasibility study into developing a commercial rice industry in the Sepik Plain.
Trukai Industries chief executive officer Marc Denovan and two scientists from Australia spent two days in East Sepik to carry out initial investigation as to whether it was viable to develop a commercial rice industry in the province, specifically in the Sepik Plain.
“They collected soil samples and have returned to Australia to complete the study,” Maru, who is also Trade, Commerce and Industry Minister, said.
He thanked the Trukai Industries management for accepting his invitation to visit the province to look at the potential of developing a commercial rice industry.
The two scientists, who spent two days conducting initial site assessments and collecting soil samples in the Sepik Plain, will, over the coming weeks, compile an assessment report to determine whether the Sepik Plain is viable to grow rice and it is worth investing substantial amount of funds in a fully pledged commercial rice trial there.
“There are certainly great opportunities available for any form of rice development within the province, depending on the viability and suitability of the agronomic conditions,” the minister said.
“As seen, the keenness and willingness of the local people to participate in rice development or any form of economic development is very high but we will wait for assessment reports before we can map the way forward together.
“The Sepiks have been growing rice since 1952 and my dad was one of the first Papua New Guineans to be trained on how to plough the soil using a tractor to grow rice,” Maru said.
He said the current government was keen on developing the Sepik Plain into a major agriculture zone.
He said Prime Minister Peter O’Neill was in the province a couple of weeks back and he realised that the province had the biggest agriculture potential.
“I will be taking a submission to cabinet very shortly to make the Sepik Plain the first agriculture industrial zone of Papua New Guinea.”
Meanwhile, palm oil is currently being grown in the Sepik Plains.
Plans are also underway to develop a cattle industry.