Imbonggu sees success in SME projects

Owners of small to medium enterprise (SME) projects funded by Imbonggu District Development Authority (IDDA) under MP Francis Awesa’s leadership have spoken highly of positive impacts in areas where the projects have been established.

Imbonggu’s first successful poultry layer farmer, Resi Kupa has said that people should not wait and expect their MPs and government to do everything for them.

Kupa told of his own egg layer project, which he started in January 2013 in a bush material building with three boxes containing 156 layers.

In 2015, he was assisted with K20,000 by the IDDA enabling the egg farmer to increase his layers to 300 producing between 16 and 18 dozens of eggs each day supply Mendi town and local markets.

Piggery farmer, Pastor James Dima was assisted with K50,000 in August 2015 to build a K98,000 new permanent building replacing an old bush material structure.

Pastor Dima plans to set up a feed mill and build a butchery to supply the pork meat demands of Mendi town and local communities.

A portable sawmill machine owned by a woman has done wonders to help people build new permanent houses.

Purchased in 2010 with IDDA help the equipment has been used to cut timber to build new permanent homes replacing bush material (kunai) houses.

Sawmill owner,  Napi Limu said the machine has made big and positive impact to change the way of life for villagers to build affordable new permanent houses.

Limu said home owners provided their own trees and pay a minimal cost for the boys operating the sawmill, fuel and lubricants to do their work.

“It is the first of its kind equipment in the area and has enabled our people to build and own permanent homes in their own villages - something never seen previously in the area.

“It provides excellent opportunity for those who are prepared to spend their own money to build good houses for their families instead of wasting their hard-earned money in gambling, drinking and other unproductive and worthless activities,”  Limu stressed.

Another portable sawmill operator, Ben Sawe was given K75,000 to buy a new portable sawmill to cut local timber for people to build permanent houses at reasonable cost as well as for other purposes.

Sawe said the emphasis of government in driving the SME policy should not only be concentrate in big cities, town and urban areas, but also pursued in the districts and local communities.

He said SME policy work will work if more money is given to people in rural and outlying zones of the country.

Sawe said such rural based small projects and business activities will help to making meaningful contribution in the government’s policy on SME.

“Put more money in the rural communities and districts, because that is where the bulk of the population live.

“People in the rural areas and villages are those who want to remain there and do the hard work for themselves, their families and communities,” he said.

As well, in its 2016 budget, the IDDA has approved K350,000 to set up a vegetable market depot with proper cool room, storage, marketing and distribution facilities to help boost local vegetable production.

Walume government station has been identified as the suitable site of the depot because of its central location as well as road, electricity and other infrastructure connection.

It is situated on Western and Southern Highlands highway at the junction of Ialibu-Pangia and Mendi-Kagua-Tari roads.

The IDDA has also assisted others to set up service station, trading, transports and other projects.

Photo: Portable sawmill owned by Napi Limu cut timber for a church building at Pilipiliailen in Ialibu Basin LLG area.

Author: 
Henzy Yakam