Taro exports show potential

AGRICULTURE has been a fundamental part of Papua New Guinea’s livelihood for many years since time immemorial.
This is evident by the declaration of the Kuk archeological site in Waghi Valley, Western Highlands, by World Heritage as an ancient agricultural site dating back to more than 10,000 years.
We have native food crops which are resilient to pests, diseases and adverse climatic conditions. These food crops are bananas (plantains), sweet potato (kaukau), taro, cassava (tapioca), yam, corn, peanut, sugarcane, citrus fruits, pineapples and pawpaw, (papaya) among others.
In the past two to three decades, we have also adopted a variety of introduced crops or hybrid varieties that are also adaptive to local conditions.
The two local agricultural SME companies, which are currently innovative and creative in exporting the locally-abundant tuber crop – taro – to overseas markets is an eye-opener for Papua New Guineans who are locked up in subsistence cycle of cultivation for many crops.
It is an exemplary step taken by these local companies and I commend them for the initiative. They have put our locally-grown taro crop on the world stage with other Pacific Island and Southeast Asian countries.
The advantage we have over other competitors is that our crops are local varieties retaining high standard of taste and nutritional value and are organically grown on natural fertile soil.
These companies are Muruk Tropical Limited and Wantok Produce Companies. We appreciate the efforts of the managing directors and owners, Anna Wissink of Muruk Tropical, and Dr Poluto Mccarthy of Wantok Produce, for putting Papua New Guinea on the world map.
These markets are in Australia, New Zealand and the United States, which is very motivating and encouraging for other farmers to export the same crop in sharing costs and/or other crops to trial out new market demand.
Together we can do it better.

Philip Ukuni