Simon urges people to work their land and meet demand

By KELVIN JOE
AGRICULTURE Minister John Simon has urged the people of Chimbu and throughout the Highlands to make use of their land and start supplying fresh produce to meet local and international market demand.
“You do not need to struggle to sell your fresh produce anymore because the Government will continue to bring markets to the district level and establish buying points where the people live,” he said.
Simon said this at the opening of the Kundiawa-Gembogl Agro-fresh chiller and cold chain supply facility in Port Moresby on Monday.
He said the establishment of the facility would ensure the quality of vegetables and fruits which would enable farmers to earn good returns.
“So my people from Kerowagi, Kundiawa-Gembogl, Chimbu and up in the Highlands, we are now providing you the market and bringing it to your door-step,” he said.
He said while the Government had provided the market, people needed to farm the land to ensure consistent supply for a sustainable programme.
“The only problem now is, we (Government) need you to supply more fresh produces to meet the demand,” he said.
He said customers would now buy straight from farmers at good prices.
“It is our job now to bring your fresh produce to Lae, Port Moresby and other centres while you can go back and continue farming and supplying more garden produce,” Simon said.
Meanwhile, he said his department was working with the Foreign Affairs Department to establish a bilateral-relationship with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to export the country’s fresh produces straight to Dubai.
“Dubai has already shown interest in our cash crops such as coffee and cocoa and locally grown fresh produces,” he said.