Road improvement brings benefits to local farmers

FARMERS in Central New Ireland are enjoying increased participation in the oil palm market.
This was the result of continuous road improvement projects on the Boluminski Highway supported by the Papua New Guinea-Australia partnership.
Ben Aisini, a farmer from Kabin village with a three-hectare block of oil palm, said: “I’ve seen changes in the industry and improvements that benefit us as farmers.”
Aisini, who is a member of a farmer’s association that collects and transports oil palm for members to the island’s palm oil mill, said: “With the help of the association, farmers can get our fruit to the mill on time.
“This is especially helpful as the association has four-wheel drive vehicle to help bring our harvests to the highway from our blocks.
“Without this service, and the improved road, our fruit would be left in our blocks to rot.
“It’s easy to take the bus to Kavieng or Namatanai to get supplies from the stores there.
“Our road is in good condition and that makes it easier to travel than in the past.”
Isaac Laxidak, a farmer from Kandis village, said: “When you harvest, you can only leave your cut fruit overnight or the palm oil will not meet export quality standards and the market value will drop.
“So the farmer’s association is a great help, providing vehicles to collect and deliver our harvest to the mill before the fruit spoils.
“If the fruit does not pass quality control, prices drop or worse, the mill rejects the fruit and farmers cannot cover their everyday living expenses.”