Trukai gives update on crops, harvest

TRUKAI Industries Ltd said its second commercial crop at Rangiampum in Umi along the Markham Valley is progressing well and harvesting started this week.
In its ongoing support to develop the local rice industry, this will be the second commercial harvest as the company continues to invest in local rice production.
The first harvest was completed last year, milled and packed in Lae, then distributed as Trukai Hamamas Rice, signifying a new dawn for a domestic commercial rice production for Trukai and PNG.
The rain fed crop is planted over 275 hectares and is estimated to produce over 1,000 tons of rice when harvested. The rice is 100 per cent locally made from planting through to harvesting, milling and packaging.
Trukai Industries commercial cropping manager Nicodemus Bokame said the rice grown was Trukai 3 variety.
“The rice is a variety of long grain rice, bonus of being a naturally low glycaemic index to provide sustained energy release.”
The Markham rice project is being implemented in partnership between Trukai and the Chingwham Rice Growers Cooperative from Rangiampum.