Ward producing, milling rice for local consumption

National

PEOPLE in the Ivon-Gore ward in the Sinivit local level government (LLG) area of Pomio district in East New Britain have stopped buying rice for two months because they are producing their own.
The venture started after the ward received rice mill from the LLG administration.
Ward member James Vevut said rice was a vital part of the family meal now.
He said rice farming at the ward began five years ago but because there was no mill, farmers had to travel to the Organisation for Industrial, Spiritual and Cultural Advancement facility to use the mill which was costly and far for most of the locals.
This prompted Vevut and his ward development committee members to take out a loan to purchase a mill.
Meanwhile an unused mill from Urai, along the south coast in the LLG area, was brought to Ivon-Gore for it to be put to use.
The mill was launched on Monday and it will enhance the production in one of the highly populated wards in the LLG, with a population of nearly 2,000 in its four zones.
He urged people in his ward and the surrounding 17 wards to help themselves before asking for government support.