Partnership to distribute potato seedlings

THE Southern Highlands government is now partnering with Innovative Agro Industries (IAI) to distribute potato seedlings to the five districts in the province.
Governor William Powi said K5 million was allocated by the provincial government, K1 million for each of the five districts, as part of empowering the people.
“I will continue this with the extension officers,” he said during the launching of the Kuk chips in Port Moresby on Friday.
“With that on board, we will try and piggy back on the National Government allocation for agriculture which according to the figures (in the Budget passed on Thursday) is about K200 million.
“So looking at where the National Government is driving, we want to now prepare our people so they participate in this national agriculture and empowerment programme.”
Powi said the provincial government would also provide funding to train locals to get the districts extension programmes throughout the province.
He said the factory was already in the province and the people needed to work hard to meet the requirement of supplying five containers of potatoes every week.
Meanwhile, Innovative Agro Industries chief executive officer Lior Crystal said they would provide training on the extension programme throughout the districts.
“We will do the training within the facility and more importantly provide training on-site with the local farmers and extension officers to make sure they use the best techniques and quality seeds to get better products.”