Southern Highlands Provincial Government (SHPG), together with the agro-developer Innovative Agro Industry (IAI), launched the Kuk Chips – 100 percent locally made frozen French fries.
The brand named is inspired by the Kuk agriculture site, located in the Highlands of PNG that was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO. Kuk showed evidence that 6,500 years ago the ingenious people of the Highlands of Papua New Guinea transformed plant gathering to agriculture, demonstrating independent agricultural development from a hunters-gatherers society to an agriculture society.
The processing plant is a modern state-of-the art frozen fruits and vegetables facility, equipped with a unique and innovative IQF processing line (Individually Quick Freezing), the first of its kind in PNG. The first line of products is frozen French fries, which requires the Highlands farmers to supply 80 tons of raw potatoes weekly.
The frozen produce can be stored, transported and distributed to customers, retaining its taste and nutritional values.
Supplying frozen vegetables including French fries achieves a logistic breakthrough that builds a bridge from farmer to market. On top, all value added downstream processing is conducted in PNG’s Highlands, boosting the local economy.
“This joint venture achieves the goals set by Government for the agriculture sector in PNG – this is a 100 percent PNG made product,” said SHP Governor, William Powi.
“Potatoes are grown by the farmers and downstream processing is done in a world class facility – all here in PNG. It creates a market, which means creation of jobs and income opportunities for thousands of farmers in Southern Highlands Province and in the Highlands region.”
Lior Crystal, CEO of IAI, said: “We are buying potatoes from farmers from Southern Highlands, Enga, Jiwaka and other places. We even have a stall in the Hagen market purchasing 3-4 tons daily. We buy directly from the farmers.
“Highlands farmers are hardworking small scale farmers struggling to make ends meet, they are not looking for handouts but rather for a consistent market for their produce.
“It is not easy and there are many challenges,” Crystal added, “but today we prove again that together with dedicated partners it is possible to do innovative commercial agriculture in PNG, with a complete value chain, from the raw produce to high end quality products.”
Governor Powi further said it is a very proud and happy day for the Province and the country, and for agriculture in PNG.
“I call on all Papua New Guineans, including restaurants, caterings, hotels and kaibars - buy our locally produced product and support the farmers of PNG.”