First maize harvest for Erap farm
A maize farm in Erap, Morobe Province, led by Hore Agricultural Suppliers, harvested its first commercial crop, backed by the Office of the Prime Minister and the Department of Agriculture and Livestock. The project aims to reduce grain imports by promoting maize farming. With a pilot project covering three hectares, the farm harvested six tons of maize. The initiative seeks to inspire other farmers to participate and cater to local demand from companies like Farmset and Pelgens Goodman Fielder International.
A FARM in Erap, Morobe Province, recently harvested its first commercial maize crop that will be sold to secured markets in the country.
The maize farm project is headed by Hore Agricultural Suppliers with Humphrey Saese as the project manager.
Mr Saese said that the project is supported by the Office of Prime Minister and in partnership with the Department of Agriculture and Livestock because of its groundbreaking efforts into commercialising maize farming in Papua New Guinea.
“The event marks a maiden harvest which was started in 2019, with the first site at Nadzab and then moved to Erap site in 2023,” he said.
“We had an arrangement with DAL to set up a maize corn farm in the area.
“The background behind the project is due to the high imports of grains that the country imports to almost 700,000 tones of grains which are rice and wheat which are two major grains that we import into the country.
“That will be the main reason that prompted me to start up this initiative in the country.”
Mr Saese said the reason behind growing corn is that around 325,000 tonnes of it is imported and about half of its goes to producing stock feed.
“Part of the reason why we are doing this is also to encourage other farmers, landowners or nationals to take on this kind of venture to grow so that we can collectively and progressively look at replacing imports not just in wheat but in rice as well.
“The corn farm is a pilot project of three hectares land and has harvested six tons of maize last Friday.
“There is a big market here in the country like Farmset, Pelgens Goodman Fielder International and a few other small feed and livestock producers that are interested to buy corn to use in their feed meal formulation and feed products.”
Source Link : https://www.postcourier.com.pg/first-maize-harvest-for-erap-farm/
