By Sasha Pei-Silovo – EM TV Online
(Image Credit: Justin Tkatchenko, Member for Moresby South and Minister for Sports, Pacific Games 2015 and National Events. Koki Market 1972 image credit: Postcards from Logohu Place)
The refurbished Koki Market is soon to be opened to the public. It has 36 stalls, and will only accommodate for sellers of garden produce.
Koki Market will be a one-stop market for organically grown vegetables and fruit.
With the aim of providing a healthy, safe and hygienic environment for market vendors and buyers in Port Moresby, all sellers wanting to sell their produce will be checked to ensure they keep to the rules and regulations of the facility.
With agriculture being the backbone of the country, the renovation and upgrading of markets, as such, is significant in driving sustainable agriculture and the local economy where a greater percentage of the population rely heavily on subsistence farming to sustain their livelihoods.
For the people of nearby Central and Gulf provinces who bring their garden produce to the city of Port Moresby to sell, the new-look Koki Market is a ‘breath of fresh air’ for them.
The call from local authorities to have the market facilitate for the trade of garden produce only is being greatly welcomed by city residents, farmers and growers.
Koki Market is one of the oldest markets in the nation’s capital, and its redevelopment has cost K8 million; made possible through the continuous partnership of the local MP Justin Tkatchenko, Member for Moresby South and Minister for Minister for Sports, Pacific Games 2015 and National Events and NCD Governor, Powes Parkop.
The entire market facility now has vegetable and fruit stalls, adequate carpark space, 36 shop spaces that will be available for lease and established toilet facilities. Other community facilities include a Koki community hall, and four community training classrooms which will also be used by Buk Bilong Pikinini library.
For community sports, netball, volleyball and basketball complexes have been constructed.
Appropriate drainage systems have also been built to cater for the market; a proper market garbage disposal system is also in place for waste management.
The Koki Fish Market is still undergoing construction.
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