NDB happy with progress at Central rice project

 THE Gabadi super hybrid rice pilot project funded by National Development Bank (NDB) at Gabadi village in Kairuku, Central, is progressing at an impressive rate, the bank says.

The project was an initiative of local landowners and joint venture partner, Gabadi Agriculture Ltd, that specialises in project management, particularly in the agro industry.

NDB invested almost K2.6 million in the company as start-up.

“NDB is happy to be a part of this high impact project which is the first of its kind in the country for the local people and we will continue to support this project and similar rice projects in the country under a nucleus project management structure,” managing director Moses Liu said during a recent visit to the project site.

“We are thankful to the Philippines Ambassador to PNG Dr Bien Tejano for his support in providing technical assistance for the hybrid rice farming.”

Last November, approximately 10 hectares of land was used to carry out an experiment.

The recent visit to the experiment site showed the rice grains coming out of its tilers at an impressive rate without use of chemicals and fertilisers – which proved that PNG may be the best place to grow rice organically.

Dr Frisco Malabanan, a super hybrid rice scientist with Philippines-based SL Agritech Corporation, visited the site with Liu and was impressed with the rate in which the rice was growing. 

“Since we already have proof that this hybrid rice will do well in PNG conditions, and with the availability of land, PNG can produce more than enough rice to feed the whole country and the rest of the world,” Dr Frisco said.

“This is a good accomplishment for PNG.”