Vegetables turning into lucrative business

FRESH vegetable producers in Wau, Morobe, have shown their appreciation to Fresh Produce Development Agency (FPDA) and NKW Fresh Company for providing a sustainable way to make a living.
Production of fresh vegetables has become a lucrative business which earns individual farmers up to K2000 per fortnight.
This is despite various challenges including farming methods, water supply and roads.
Bing Bingidin, a farmer from Biawen, said the concept of fresh produced was initiated by one Frank Harold in the 1970s.
This was short-lived, though, as they resorted to alluvial mining.
Bingidin said they had seen a huge difference in their lives since FPDA came into Wau in 2013.
“I have opened four family accounts, including a cheque account,” he said.
“I am planning to buy myself a PMV truck next year to enable me transport my fresh vegetables to markets.”
Bingidin and famers from Werewere, Nemnem, Maus Kuranga, Mamboo Creek, Namba 6 Compound and Wandumi thanked FPDA and NKW last Thursday.
The FPDA, in partnership with the NKW, had been involved in training and mentoring locals on farm management and marketing.
This is with the aim of sustaining them after the Hidden Valley mine closes.