by Colleen Barilae – EM TV, Lae
A piece of land in the Erap area of Morobe will be will be used to grow cassava.
The Department of Agriculture and Livestock, with SP Brewery, have agreed to set up a cassava project as part of a trial.
Starch obtained from the cassava roots will be used as an ingredient that will be used in the production of alcohol.
Over the years, SP Brewery has been using imported starch in most of its productions.
The project is expected to attract local participation in farming the crop.
More than 50,000 people within Markham, Nawaeb and Huon Gulf districts in Morobe will be engaged as small growers.
The planting stage of the cassava project is expected to start in July.
Minster for Agriculture and Livestock, Tommy Tomscoll, said the project is expected to improve the livelihoods of local communities.
The agriculture sector’s local production is expected to rise and at the same time there will be a cut on the cost involved in previous imports of starch from other countries.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=jfCIFvwZs58%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
