Villagers near volcano told to work together

 PEOPLE from Korere Two village, in the Kombiu local level government, Rabaul, who have returned to their village after the volcanic eruptions, were challenged to set up a co-operative group in their locality.

Kombiu local level government rural development officer Bruno Palawo stressed the importance and benefits of co-operatives when he visited the village recently. 

He was accompanied by Rabaul district rural development officer Byron Yawogi and Kombiu LLG business development officer Miriam Konkori.

Palawo said with a copra co-operative, middlemen in the market chain would be eliminated giving maximum benefit to the people.

Palawo told the gathering that people were not getting the true value of their bags of copra because this was shared by middle-men.

He informed the villagers that they should help themselves first before seeking government assistance.

Palawo said in countries where there were no cash crops or mining industries, small medium enterprises drove the economy using co-operatives.

Konkori told the people about the availability of revolving funds at the Mataure Rabaul Microfinance Limited and how to access the funds.