Potato farmers participate in out-growers programme

POTATO farmers in four highlands provinces are participating in an out-growers programme to supply potatoes to the new Highlands Agriculture Industrial Centre (AIC) located in Pangia, Southern Highlands.
The Highlands AIC is a modern, fully mechanised frozen fruits and vegetable facility, equipped with a unique and innovative Individually Quick Freezing (IQF) processing line, the first of its kind in PNG and the Pacific region.
The centre is a joint partnership (50:50) investment by the Southern Highlands government and the Innovative Agro Industry Ltd (IAI).
IAI is backed by funding provided by Israel’s Export Credit Agency and Israel’s IDB bank at a total investment of US$14 million (K47mil).
The first product line of the Highlands AIC is set to be frozen French fries, a large import bill for PNG.
The Highlands AIC is poised to compete with these imports, providing PNG consumers with an additional choice of quality home-grown fries at competitive prices.