MVF monitoring and evaluation officer Jackson Korave said this was the first tranche of Farmer Seed Capital (FSC) category 4 funds disbursed to the six lead partners.
The six lead partners that signed up to participate in the project are: Simbu Farmers Marketing Limited (SFML), Gembogl Potato Seed Growers (GPSG), Mt. Wilhelm Organic Food Farmers’ Cooperative (MWOFFC), Mitnande Agriculture Supplies (MAS), Minzi Mokoni Fresh Produce (MMFP), and Kupo Range Fresh Produce (KRFP).
The funds were disbursed to the lead partners to procure fertilizers, chemicals, seeds and other farm materials to then supply to their profiled farmers. Farmers raised their 30 per cent contribution while the project accounted for 70 per cent.
“Initially, many farmers were reluctant to contribute, but following extensive publicity of successful distributions, contributions for tranche 2 increased,” Mr. Korave said.
Disbursement of agronomic inputs for tranche 2 and 3 is ongoing, and reinforced with capacity building trainings for farmers to motivate them to take up farming as a serious venture and full-time job.
Project coordinator for Chimbu, David Kaupa hailed the government for supporting village farmers through this project intervention.
“Chimbu farmers are directly benefiting from this project. The project has created markets right at the doorstep for the rural farmers to bring in their produce and get a premium price.
“Livelihoods of the people are greatly improving, triggered by windfall of cash brought by the project. This is a sustainable project that is transforming Chimbu communities that have been predominantly relying on small scale agriculture.
“This project is building the capacity of our farmers to venture into full-time commercial farming engagements. To further build the capacity of the farmers, trainings in financial literacy, nutrition, and food processing are run in conjunction with the project.
“On behalf of the people of Chimbu, I want to extend our gratitude and appreciation to the national government for funding this project through the Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL) and tasking the Fresh Produce Development Agency (FPDA) to implement it. FPDA is doing a wonderful job.
“I am appealing to the provincial and district authorities to counter fund this project to increase support towards the farmers by utilizing their agriculture grants parked into their Services Improvement Program (SIP).
“There is no better project than this, which is aimed at transforming the horticulture industry, where over 80 per cent of the population, based in the rural areas are concentrated in,” Mr. Kaupa said.
MVF project manager Joe Koima urged the beneficiaries in the targeted provinces of Western Highlands Jiwaka, Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, Morobe and East New Britain to make good use of the funds and submit good reports to the government.
“Those in the targeted provinces are privileged and should take ownership of the project to greater impacts for the country because taxpayers will repay the loan obtained to finance this project.
“We need to expand this project to other provinces and you must produce success stories,” Mr. Koima challenged the lead partners and the beneficiary farming households.