Million kina start for research station

 By GABRIEL FITO

WEWAK MP Jim Simatab has allocated K1 million to start work on the Hawain Agriculture Research Station, in East Sepik.

Simatab, pictured, said the Cocoa Coconut Institute had settled at Hawain but did not solve problems affecting the cash crops.

“The district is therefore doing it this year and next year we will start giving out cocoa pod borer resistant clones to our farmers,” he said.

“We will have officers from the universities, NARI and CCI at Hawain who will produce our planting materials here because imported planting materials will not suit our conditions.”

Simatab was responding to Surumba Arin ward member Lawrence Hamambi who had raised concern over the high tertiary institutions fees which were killing parents already affected by the cocoa pod borer (CPB).

Simatab said the district would assist parents of students attending tertiary institutions this year.

“We will help pay for Wewak district students attending universities and colleges,” he said.

“Parents and guardians are advised to liaise with my officers and we will help.

“We will only help student from Wewak district. 

“Those originally from Wewak but completed Grade 12 outside the province will not be considered as the district wants return on its investment.”

He was speaking during the opening of a Digicel-funded double classroom at Arin Primary School last Friday.

He told the people that the district would work with the Catholic Church Health Services to build a clinic this year with K100,000 from the district.