Sunday January 31st 2021
From FIRMIN NANOL in Jiwaka
Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has urged the Jiwaka Provincial Government to rehabilitate and revive the rundown tea and coffee plantations in the Waghi Valley and other agricultural activities to create employment and generate income for the people.
He said this last Friday (January 29th 2021) when launching the K200 million Jiwaka provincial headquarters at Kurumul before thousands of people.
“Jiwaka province is in the greater fertile Waghi Valley and anything you plant will grow and produce food for the other provinces and the country,” PM Marape said.
“I want the entire Waghi Valley, including the Jiwaka Province, to be an agricultural hub or food-producing region in the upper Highlands and the entire country.
“The National Government has put money to the tune of K200million into the local SME sector with our banks, including Bank South Pacific and National Development Bank.
“Other agencies like the Agriculture Department have their programs to support SMEs in the space of agriculture and or tourism.
“I appeal to you the people who have land to go into agriculture.
“If you have an old coffee or tea plot, clean it and rehabilitate the tree or plant a new one.
“If you have banana trees, look after them.
“If you have a plot of land, till it and plant something to feed your family.
“Sell the surplus to make money for school fees and support your new Jiwaka Province to develop.”