MADC RAISES CONCERNS OF LACK OF MARKET ACCESS IN OKAPA

By Vicky BAUNKE, EHP

ONE of the most agriculture rich districts in the Eastern Highlands Province known for its fresh produce and coffee production as the main source of income has no proper market place to sell their produce.

Mr Samuel Ataya a 43-year-old Okapa resident, highlighted the long-standing grievance regarding the lack of basic market infrastructure in Okapa District in the Eastern Highlands Province.

He said this sentiment resonates particularly strongly as PNG approaches its 50th anniversary of independence, a milestone that prompts reflection on development progress across the nation.

The Okapa District has a population of 62, 000 people with agriculture and coffee as its backbone for economic growth says Mr Ataya who is also the Chairman of the Mane Community Development Association Incorporated from the Mage village in its East Okapa rural Local Level government a community initiative group.

The Mane Association (MADC) is an agriculture based group formed to promote self reliance, remove poverty and improve living standards and to provide a relief to address the day-to-day struggles for locals.

Mr Ataya expeessed that the core issue is that the absence of a designed market infrastructure emphasizes that for over four decades, Okapa District has not had a properly designed market.

He said vendors likely operate in informal settings, often “just in front of the Okapa district office and government bureaucracy and the lack of such formal infrastructure presents numerous challenges for the people.

This includes limited economic opportunity as with without a proper market, local producers, particularly farmers, struggle to efficiently sell their produce and this limits their income-earning potential and discourages increased agricultural output, a vital sector for many rural PNG communities.

He added that informal market setups often lack adequate shelter, sanitation facilities, and proper waste management, leading to unhygienic conditions, exposure to elements, and potential health risks.

Among that also are security concerns as undesignated market areas can be prone to law and order issues, including theft and harassment, impacting both vendors and buyers.

He said recent reports highlight serious law and order issues in Okapa, including armed holdups on roads, which could further deter market activities and the lack of structure and Organization and the absence of a designated market can lead to disorganization, difficulty in regulating trade, and missed opportunities for local government revenue through market fees.

He said this would also reduce attractiveness for buyers and potential buyers.

However, mothers who bring their fresh produce fall victims to hold-ups and high costs of transport to Goroka and Kainantu town to do marketing and end up left with nothing.