KUNDIAWA-GEMBOGL DDA OPENS ELECTRIC ONION DRIER & PROCESSING PLANT FOR SIMBU FARMERS

Kundiawa, Simbu Province. Farmers in Kundiawa-Gembogl and other districts of Simbu will no longer have to make risky journeys to Eastern Highlands, Western Highlands and other provinces to sell their produce.

The Kundiawa-Gembogl District Development Authority (DDA), through Agrotech, has officially opened a new electric bulb onion drier, a vegetable processing facility and a truck to transport produce. The facility was opened yesterday in a small but significant program.

Agrotech General Manager Paul Pairu said the facility addresses the biggest struggle for more than 40,000 farmers in the province.

“Farmers are relieved. Now they will only transport their produce from their garden to the facility, get their money and go home. This is much safer compared to before when they had to take it to other provinces,” Mr. Pairu said.

He said the facility provides the missing link of drying, processing and marketing. The eight-tonne drier will allow bulk drying and storage to attract large orders, the processing facility will add value before market, and the new truck will carry produce from remote Gembogl to Kundiawa. The facility will also sell insecticides, pesticides and farming tools in one location.