Many rich people around the world are farmers who consider farming to be a serious business. In PNG on the other hand, many people call themselves farmers but still do not take farming seriously.
Village Extension Workers (VEW) Program Manager Johnny Wemin made these remarks at a VEW review workshop in Port Moresby recently.
VEW farmers in NCD and Central Province gathered at Weigh Inn Motel in May, 2019 for a review workshop where farmers updated FPDA officers on the progress and failures.
The week-long workshop was an eye-opener for farmers, giving them an opportunity to interact with other farmers and refresh their knowledge with new skills and training provided by the VEW Program Manager and other senior officers.
Mr. Wemin said farming was part of life for most people around the world, yet PNG was still far from taking up farming as a major income generating activity. He stressed that PNG already had the art, science and economics of farming and it was up to the people to take up farming at a commercial level.
“We have the skills and knowledge of farming at a commercial level, yet we take a laid-back approach,” he said.
Senior Marketing Officer John Susub said demand for fresh produce in Port Moresby markets was always there. “We need to grow more daily to feed the market demand in the city. What we produce currently cannot meet market demand therefore some crops are still being imported,” he said.
Mr. Susub said FPDA only provides start up kits and skill training but does not provide funding, a fact which should be made known to new farmers.
VEWs should understand what FPDA has been doing over the years and try to utilize those opportunities available, he said.
VEWs who attended the review provided statistics and background information on their produce and the advantages and difficulties they encountered over the years.
Farmers have indicated that their crops rarely go to waste due to the huge demand in the city especially with aibika, watermelon, pakchoi, tomato, bulb onion and lettuce among others.
The single biggest problem they encountered was transporting their produce to the markets on time due to poor road conditions.