Alotau district in Milne Bay Province can become the hub of foods production to address foods security issues and promote business activity in Papua New Guinea.
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.
FPDA has now expanded its model farm concept into Alotau establishing three model farms and three model farmers in the province with more expressing interests.
He said the concept was also to address the National Government’s Food Security policy which FPDA has initiated model farms and farmers around the country with skills and technology to also venture into commercial food and vegetable production.
“Food supply chain stops when the person on the other hand stops eating. Otherwise as a farmer, you have to keep farming and supplying the market consistently as a way of life so that the food supply chain is kept in motion,” he said.
Coinciding with FPDA’s annual board meeting in Alotau this week, the trial farm visit has been a boost for the company’s expansion plans as well as that of the aspiring farmers.
Mr Worinu said FPDA has established regional offices with plans to reach out to all the provinces and Alotau was one of their priorities.
The board members and senior management team expressed satisfaction after visiting two trial farms at Bubuletta, a Department of Primary Industry station and Laviam Village.