By Lilliane Keneqa – EMTV News, Port Moresby
Israeli agriculture company, ‘Innovative Agro Industry Papua New Guinea’ has been working with the Central Province Government on agriculture to deliver a maize out-grower program in the Province.
The company which has been in operation in the country since 2011, has been exploring and pioneering in several projects in the field of agro-industry and the energy and power sector.
During the week, Ilimo Dairy Farm outside of Port Moresby received the first harvest from the Central Province Smallholder Maize Project. Steven Kapateai, from the Hiri Kairuku District, proudly delivered 1 tonne of locally grown maize to Illimo Dairy Farm.
1 tonne of locally grown maize was delivered to Ilimo Dairy Farm on Friday (April 13, 2018) at 14 Mile.
Steven Kapateai, from Kuriva in the Kairuku district, is the first farmer to successfully grow maize through the maize out-grower program in Central Province. The maize purchased from local farmers will become part of the feed that is provided to Ilimo dairy’s to feed the cows.
This partnership which was officially signed on May 10th, 2016, between Innovative Agro Industries and the Central Province Government is now giving farmers in Central Province the ability to not only make money but it also creates employment.
Innovative Agro Industries Chairman, Ilan Weiss applauded the farmers and explained that purchasing Ilimo Milk is supporting the local farmers. It takes 100 days to grow the maze, and farmers in the five districts in Central Province now have the chance to effectively contribute to the country’s economy.
Due to Steven Kapateai’s success in farming maize, many other farmers present were more confident to grow maize.
