Plans to redevelop farm

THE Government will redevelop the rundown Baiyer River Cattle Ranch in Western Highlands.
This follows a meeting between Agriculture and Livestock Minister John Simon, Livestock Development Corporation (LDC) chairman Daniel Kombuk and landowner leaders in Baiyer last Friday.
Landowner leaders Phillip Ukuni, Kuipa Yap and Pyimua Kamesoa, as well as Mul-Baiyer-Lumusa deputy administrator Yanga Treppe, spoke in favour of LDC returning to revive the ranch which had been closed for 30 years.
The reopening of the ranch is in line with the direction Prime Minister James Marape is taking to take stock of all State land and assets.
It is also in line with his Government’s vision for PNG to be self-sufficient in livestock production by 2025 – the country’s 50th year of independence.
The ranch, which was established during colonial era, was closed in 1992 with the land reverting back to locals.
Simon said the Government, through LDC, would work with the Mul-Baiyer-Lumusa development authority (DDA) and landowners to redevelop the ranch.
“We are here to identify land, not to chase away the district administration or landowners,” he said.
“We want to get the thoughts of you, landowners, to check if the land boundaries are still there, if you want us to come back.
“My belief all the time is that we must work in partnership with landowners, with the district, with everyone, to deliver this service.
“At the end of the day, who benefits from this service? It is you (people of Mul-Baiyer-Lumusa).”
Simon urged landowners to take ownership of the project and protect it.
He said LDC would bring in surveyors for work to begin on reviving the ranch. Meanwhile, the process of taking back LDC land started in Goroka and Zuguru (Eastern Highlands), Baiyer and would continue to Erap (Morobe), Launakalana (Central), Corn Farm (Western Highlands), Wariman and Urimo (East Sepik), Dumpu (Madang) and other sites around the country.