Vegetable growers want storage facility

FRESH Produce Development Authority (FPDA) is taking steps to address problems faced by vegetable farmers and help them find markets for their produce, chairman Fabian Chow said yesterday.
He told The National that the FPDA was looking at setting up a wholesale vegetable storage facility at 8-Mile outside Port Moresby for growers.
However, he ruled out FPDA getting involved in freight subsidy for vegetable growers, saying this was not necessary at the moment.
This follows recent complaints by vegetable suppliers from the highlands that they lacked proper storage facilities at Gordon Market.
“We’ve gone through with Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL) on the need for a wholesale growers’ market,” Chow said.
“I’m glad that we’ve already identified a piece of land at 8-Mile for putting this project together.
“Gordon doesn’t have the space … it will be at 8-Mile.
“We’re not talking about Port Moresby; we’re talking about farmers out there in Mt Hagen, Banz, who want a marketing system where they can deliver to a location in Port Moresby.
“This will be out of the sun, storage where vegetables can be sold in an orderly manner, over three days or whatever, rather than flood the market in one day.
“This is good economics.
“We’re going through this process with DAL and I’m glad to say that, at least, we’ve already got an area just outside at 8-Mile, opposite the airport, on DAL land.”
Asked about freight subsidy, Chow said: “With robust economics, the farmers don’t need it.
“Whoever can deliver the product best will get the business.
“I look forward to the day when the LNG spin-offs improve the road from Kerema to Port Moresby, so Goilala farmers can compete on equal footing with other people by just having good road access.
“Till we get the infrastructure fixed, that can’t be put on the fast track.
“You need double infrastructure: you need goods roads, and a wholesale growers’ outlet.”
Chow also expressed concern about Goilala, which has the ideal climate to supply all of Port Moresby’s fresh vegetable needs, but for want of infrastructure.
“They (Goilala) have a double problem,” he said.
“They don’t have the road network, and also, when they bring their produce to Port Moresby, they don’t have the advantage of long-established marketing chains, like the highlanders have.”