By Jim John
Locals in North Fly District of Western Province especially the Awins and Yongoms along the Kiunga-Tabubil highway have been urged to free up some of their land space for development.
Local MP and Vice Minister for Mining and Border Development James Donald said there can be an increase in agricultural activities but land owners’ reluctance is delaying this progress.
“We want to bring agricultural activities and factories but there is no land space for us. So villagers along the highway should think critically on how we should work together for change.” he said.
He made this remark following the Agro Industrial Centre and Fly Vanilla opened at Samagos in Kiunga recently.
“People of North Fly and Western Province, we can feed Papua New Guinea and our neighbor country Indonesia if we seriously involved in different agricultural activities. We have big land mass and less population so why not free up your land and allow us the Government to bring services.” said Mr Donald.
He clarified that land owners within the district have been demanding payments before using their land spaces for any development.
He said, ” You can get money if you plough your land and don’t sell your land to other people to settle in just because you want quick money. Think about your Children’s future because Ok Tedi Mining will soon be closed but agriculture is a way forward for us all. Rubber factory, vanilla and mini rice mills are all set.”
Residents within the district have been urged to also tap into vanilla farming for mass production.
In recent years, rice, rubber and vanilla farming had increased in Western Province and plans are underway to build a cocoa factory in Suki, Delta Fly District in the near future.