Sepik plains good for farming
By DALE LUMA
THE Sepik plains in East Sepik holds a major potential for agriculture development, says Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL) secretary Daniel Kombuk.
Kombuk told The National that this was because of its vast suitable agricultural landmass.
“To do agriculture, we will have to start in the Sepik plains,” Kombuk said.
“The Sepik plains hold the potential for agriculture in Papua New Guinea and it will sustain the whole country.
“Its vastness holds unlimited potential for agriculture that will totally and fully sustain our domestic market demands and for export to Asian markets in Indonesia, Singapore and Hong Kong.
“It is suitable for all fruit and vegetable production and cash crop production like coffee, cocoa, rubber and improved fruits and vegetables under Fresh Produce Development Agency (FPDA).
“We have gone to Maprik in the Sepik plains and had a look at land over there and some of the higher mountains for the Sepik plains is suitable for improved fruit and vegetable production.”
He said DAL would introduce and trial Israeli and American hybrid oranges and mandarins in the highland areas of the Sepik plains.
“Fresh Produce (development agency) has already delivered sweet potatoes to Maprik and also the CIC (Coffee Industry Corporation) will be doing Arabica coffee over there.”
Kombuk said DAL’s quarantine facilities would be built in the Sepik plains to breed high quality beef cattle.
6 comments
I fully support the idea made by the current government. Agriculture is the backbone of PNG so we must spearhead it to sustain our Nation Economically and for the better livelihood of our people.
Embarking on what people know best is the best way forward…. Down Stream Processing in this sector will be a perfect bonus…
I wish THE FRESH Product company come our way along the Middle Sepik plain. The is Route Kusaun to Urimo and Timbunke route. There is former Urimo catlle ranch and Timbunke Catholic Mission Cattle ranch run down due to bad road conditions.
Start with sustainble production and improving quality produces for province and domestic markets. Issues of transport, freight and other associated costs need improving. Then we talk about exporting abroad.
We can dream but we must pave an easy path for our people.
Encouraging feedback and support from the government so let’s be serious and get it going. I’m all excited and full support for this project so the government departments responsible to take lead and to make it happen. Please put your money where your mouth is and not just sweet talking and bunch of lies and waste of taxpayers money for your trip and allowance for your own travel entertainment.
This make complete sense because agriculture play a vital roles in png economy and support most of our rural people as wll as urban dwellers. minerals and natural gas are finite materials and one day will be gone and agriculture will be a benefit that we will depend on.
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