The Imbonggu District Development Authority (IDDA) has approved K350,000 in its 2016 budget to set up a vegetable market depot to boost local vegetable production.
Initiated by Imbonggu MP Francis Awesa, the plan is to establish the vegetable depot with proper cool room, storage, marketing and distribution facilities.
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 ideally situated along the Western and Southern Highlands highway at the junction of Ialibu-Pangia and Mendi-Kagua-Tari roads.
The proposed site of the vegetable depot is an open area, currently used as a public market by vendors under make-shift canvas tents and small tables.
The Division of Primary Industry (DPI) in Southern Highlands province (SHP) has welcomed the initiative by Awesa and has called for support from all stakeholders to set up the vegetable depot.
Deputy DPI advisor for SHP, Nelson Yamba said a vegetable depot would provide big incentive and guaranteed market for farmers in Imbonggu and other districts in the province.
“The initiative by Minister Awesa is very good and should be fully supported because it will provide excellent opportunity for farmers produce more knowing there is a guaranteed market.
“Currently, due to unavailability of reliable markets in the province, many farmers are reluctant to work hard only in fear of their vegetables and other produce reduced to waste,” Yamba said.
He urged all stakeholders, including politicians, farmers and relevant state and non-government organisations to fully support the idea to establish the vegetable depot with proper storage and distribution facilities.
Communities in the proximity of the proposed vegetable depot have welcomed the plan as it would provide important selling point for vegetable farmers in Imbonggu district as well as the whole of Southern Highlands Province.
Spokesman for the people, Councillor Alex Teolu said the people in the area were grateful and wanted the construction of the new vegetable depot facilities to be fast-tracked.
Cr Teolu said the facilities are much-needed service and its construction should not be unnecessarily delayed.