Innovative Agro Industries

Farmers discuss sustainable vanilla cultivation

. The development partners WestAgro Holdings (WAH), and Innovative Agro Industries (IAI). They were working in partnership with the Western Provincial Administration (WPA).

 

Representatives from each organisation included the Deputy Provincial Administrator for Resource Development, Rupert Tabua, Eitan Ribak, Fly Vanilla Project Manager and WestAgro Chairman Ian Middleton.

 

The farmers were informed that Fly Vanilla Agro-Industrial Centre in Samagoes and Kiunga will begin buying vanilla beans from May 2022.

 

Corporation Creates Partnership

Jiwaka Development Corporation Chief Executive Officer, Paul Tumun said the Jiwaka Produce Minj Buying Point building is not to interfere with existing businesses, but to venture into new businesses.

He said under its policy the JDC has forged the relationship with the Christian Leaders College to roll out agricultural projects like the rice project and they are negotiating with other customers as well.

Corporation Creates Partnership

Jiwaka Development Corporation Chief Executive Officer, Paul Tumun said the Jiwaka Produce Minj Buying Point building is not to interfere with existing businesses, but to venture into new businesses.

He said under its policy the JDC has forged the relationship with the Christian Leaders College to roll out agricultural projects like the rice project and they are negotiating with other customers as well.

Minj Buying Point Opened

Governor for Jiwaka, Dr. William Tongamp, opened the facility set up jointly by the Innovative Agro Industries and the provincial government through its development arm last week Thursday 16 December.

“We set up the selling point in Minj, where the farmers can come to us, sell the produce here and it enters the cold chain so that we can preserve. Right now we are using the refrigerator containers, it will be in a cold chain until it reaches the supermarket in Port Moresby and then we will be compete with the import on prices,” Agro Innovative CEO and Chairman, Ilan Weiss said.

Jiwaka Agro YIA set example

Assistant President, Kevin Hehirai said this when opening the Jiwaka Produce Minj Buying Point recently.

He said many social issues are caused by the youths because they don’t have money in their pockets so they get involved in petty crime and other criminal activities.

Mr Hehirai said the experience of the 300 members of Jiwaka Youth in Agriculture is that money is in agriculture when they are tilling the land, planting their own crops, harvesting and selling at local markets.

Hela Chicken Project Sets An Example

Innovative Agro Industries have supported the concept of Jiwaka Mini Buying Point by sharing their experience in Hela province. 

IAI chairman Ilan Weiss has expressed that going around PNG they have discovered and proven that despite all the cash crops and agriculture resources that are abundant in the communities, there is no value chain in existence. 

“That is why products become very costly at the end of the value chain.”

Everyday People: Joseph Ovia

Before I came here, I taught in two schools in the Central Province.

I’m a presenter in the Milk in Schools program because I am a qualified teacher too. I really enjoy this programme because it’s also educational for myself since I’m not a nutritionist.

When it’s time to prepare the lessons, I have to go on the internet to do my own research and that’s where I learn new things. I feel like a nutritionist too, and not just an ordinary primary school teacher.

Local farm to begin producing dairy products

Ilimo Farm is run by agricultural developer Innovative Agro Industries (IAI) and will be launching a new line of dairy products.

IAI Chairman Ilan Weiss said people mainly have access to processed milk due to the high cost of imported fresh milk as very few retail outlets stock fresh milk in the capital.

Weiss said they aim to put a litre of healthy fresh milk on the shelves for consumers at a cost of between K6 and K7.