Mark Worinu

Worinu made these remarks during the planning workshop for the Market for Village Farmers project (MVF) in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province recently.

Mr Worinu strongly emphasized that year 2021 is an important year for the project implementation; hence urges both the staff of FPDA, MVF and other stakeholders to work hard, and deliver much needed services to the farming communities who will benefit from the intervention.

The workshop was attended by partners including Centre for Excellence in Financial Inclusion (CEFI), CARE International and Fresh Produce Development Agency (FPDA).

FPDA General Manager Mark Worinu has welcomed CEFI and Care International for partnering with MVF to deliver the project.

He said he was thankful that CEFI and Care International have agreed to partner with MVF to deliver some key activities of the project.

“We never thought we would come this far working with reputable partners like this. It is indeed a privilege for MVF and FPDA.

General Manager Mark Worinu and his technical team were in the district at the invitation of Maprik MP and Minister for Agriculture and Livestock John Simon on the weekend.

Speaking to a huge crowd at Sologun village of Yamil Tamawi LLG, Mr Worinu said FPDA was happy to be a long-term partner with East Sepik province to provide training and expertise on the indigenous and introduced crops for commercial production.

The partnership is for three years at a cost of K3 million which will see FPDA providing technical assistance and mobilizing farmers to use their land and prioritized farming especially potatoes.

Southern Highlands Provincial Administrator Joseph Cajetan said agriculture is one of five key priority areas the Provincial administration has embarked on, in the province.

He added that the provincial administration has established a potato factory in Pangia district and the partnership between FPDA will boost the technical aspects of the farmers and grow more potatoes.

General Manager for Fresh Produce Development Agency (FPDA) Mark Worinu said this will only happen if foods and vegetables farming was given priority by local farmers.

He said the soil and climate is suitable for growing different types of foods and vegetables to supply the local market and even to other parts of the country.

Mr Worinu made these remarks after a trial farm visit to Laviam village outside the provincial capital.

He said organically grown fresh produce was the way forward for small to medium level PNG farmers.