IMBONGGU PROMOTES RICE FARMING

BY JOSEPH REMA

THE Imbonggu District Development Authority (IDDA) is expanding its development focus to agriculture by promoting rice farming among local farmers at Kiulnil village in the Imbonggu district of Southern Highlands Province.

An IDDA team led by chief executive officer Joseph Timothy, agriculture adviser Simon Moya, agriculture technical officer Sharon Karaiye and acting district planner Mathew Poiye visited the village to assess progress and encourage farmers who have started small-scale rice production.

Mr Moya said the initiative aligns with the National Government’s National Rice Policy 2015–2030, which aims to improve food security by reducing rice imports and increasing local production.

“The policy promotes large-scale mechanised farming while also supporting smallholder farmers through extension services,” Mr Moya said.
“To support this vision, the IDDA has already supplied rice milling machines to the farmers. They are now milling their own harvests and producing rice on a small scale for household consumption.”

He said rice grows best at temperatures of up to 37 degrees Celsius, adding that Kiulnil village’s average temperature of about 23 degrees provides favourable conditions for rice cultivation.

Local farmer Simon Norma said villagers currently plant rice using their own labour mainly to support their families.

“There is high demand from people who come to buy rice, but we cannot meet it,” Mr Norma said.
“If proper tools and machinery are made available, we can venture into rice milling on a commercial scale. We have sufficient land to expand production.”

Mr Timothy welcomed the farmers’ initiative and said the IDDA would explore ways to further support them.

“I will raise this with the relevant authorities and see how we can push these ideas forward,” Mr Timothy said.