Officer says rice farmers need resources to increase local production

The Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL) wants to increase local rice production but proper resources for farmers remain a hurdle, an official says.
DAL Momase regional director Nobert A’o said the department is hoping that the increase in local production would cut down the import of rice.
A’o said although interest among farmers had picked up well, cultivating without farming tools was the main challenge.
“They can’t (progress) because they lack the right tools and machinery especially to prepare the soil,” he said.
Rice farmer Gong Steven, who owns the Yazu rice model farm in Ziffasing, Wampar, Huon Gulf, said he used spades, shovels, forks and digging sticks on his farm.
Steven began rice farming in 2018 after a training at the national DAL resource centre at Erap, Wampar. He has since made three harvests.
A’o urged the Government to provide smallholder machinery such as power tillers and cultivators which the farmers could not afford themselves.
“The LLGs can offer these on affordable hire basis so local farmers can prepare their land.”