By Bridgette Komatep – EM TV, Port Moresby
Women in Surinki, Enga Province, now have a new vegetable market, known as the Amarale Vegetable Market.
At the cost of over K150,000, the new market was funded by the Laigaip–Porgera District Development Authority through its Agriculture and Economic Sector.
The market is located at Amarale Council along the Wabag to Porgera Highway.
It was officially opened by local MP, Nixon Mangape and witnessed by over 3,000 people from the electorate. Similar markets will be built for vendors along the highway, particularly for women.
Project Coordinator, William Gaupe, said that the market was aimed at serving the priority needs of the rural people of the Lagaip-Porgera electorate.
Gaupe said the market was built after seeing that the Surinki area was a fertile land which produced different varieties of vegetables such as carrots, cabbages, broccolis, potatoes, onions and lettuce.
He urged the Kulip and Michael tribesmen from the area to take ownership and look after the new market and other projects in the area. He urged them to stop fighting and not to burn down the new market and other infrastructure in the area.
