Programme assists farmers to sell rubber at K2 per kilo

RUBBER farmers in Western will now be able to sell product at K2 per kilo following the inaugural roll-out of K900,000 in price support programme by the PNG Rubber Board.
The rubber industry was allocated K2 million from the K50 million allocated by the Government in price support for commodities and rubber was the first commodity to roll out the programme.
The money was presented to Western’s leading rubber exporter, North Fly Rubber Ltd.
The K900,000 will enable an increase in the rubber price from K1 to K2.
The event was held at the Kiunga provincial headquarters where Minister for Agriculture and Livestock John Simon, Department of Agriculture and Livestock secretary Daniel Kombuk and Rubber Board chairlady Josephine Kenni were welcomed and acknowledged by Western Governor Taboi Awi Yoto.
Yoto acknowledged the PNG Rubber Board under the leadership of Kenni in facilitating the intervention of the price support programme which was timely and a welcome development as rubber was a major commodity in the province.
He said the provincial government allocated K500,000 annually to support rubber and the intervention of price subsidy would go a long way in supporting rubber development in Western.
Simon said the K50 million was the start of something great, adding that an increase in prices of commodities would benefit farmers, not only in their earnings but contributing to the economy.
He highlighted the current state of imbalance in the income earning system in the country which could be a downside in the growth of the economy.
Simon said about K300 million was paid monthly to less than five per cent of the population who were in public service, the larger proportion of the population also needed to benefit.