Organisers happy with turnout

AN estimated 100,000 people passed through the gates during the 58th Morobe Agriculture Show, according to show society president Mike Quinn.
One of the guest performers at the show, the Sunshine Coast National Skydiving team, said the show was one of the best they had attended.
Quinn said the show society was happy to host another milestone of the show since it was established in 1959 in Morobe.
“This year, the show society wanted to see the people embrace and strengthen agriculture and continue to do so to promote agriculture,” he said.
“We have a population of eight million-plus in the country and we want to urge the people – mothers, fathers and children – to continue working the land to boost agriculture and produce food for all of us.
“We must also find ways and work together to cost cut food imports.”
Quinn said one of the challenges faced was road access to transport agricultural produce to markets.
He said the Government needed to look for funds to build new roads and maintain the existing road networks that were deteriorating.
Quinn acknowledged the show’s sponsors saying that without them the event would not have been a success.
Commerce and Industry Minister Wera Mori, who attended the show, said “what a wonderful opportunity it is to showcase what we are doing in the agricultural sector and at the same time promote the culture we have had over thousands of years.”
Mori said the passing of the Supplementary Budget had redirected focus away from the extractive industries and placed more emphasis in other industries including agriculture.
“I want to encourage all Papua New Guineans to work the land,” he said.
“You must not forget that money is on the land and you have to return to agriculture.”
Mori said the Government was providing incentives for the people in agriculture sector and soon there would be a revitalisation of some of the rundown coffee, coconut and coffee plantations.