Singapore looking sweet for Enga’s Sirunki strawberries

By GYNNIE KERO IN WABAG
Strawberries grown in the Sirunki area of Enga have attracted interest from other markets like Singapore.
According to Sirunki’s farm manager Liran Tziberman, samples of the strawberries grown in Enga have been sent to Singapore and “the reaction was good”.
“In near future we might export to Singapore,” Tziberman said at the Sirunki project site on Wednesday when taking a Government delegation on a tour around the potato and strawberry facility.
The Sirunki agro project was established four years ago following a partnership between the Enga government and Israeli group Innovative Agro Industry (IAI).
Under the agreement, young people from the province were recently trained in Israel on farming techniques.
Tziberman said strawberries and potatoes from the farm were mostly supplied to Port Moresby and sold in supermarkets.
“We send strawberries through Wapenamanda three times a week, maximum of 200kg each time or 600kg per week,” he said. “We have one hectare of strawberry field and working on duplicating to the other field. I have 12 ladies running the strawberry plot.
“For potatoes, local farmers supply me 15 tonnes per week.
“We buy a kilo for K1.80 and send down to Port Moresby.
“In future we plan to plant carrots and onions.”