The first five Sepik commercial rice farm trainees arrived this morning in Port Moresby and were received by the Minister for International Trade and Investment, Hon. Richard Maru, and the owner of Rigo Rice, Mr. Jeffery Kennedy. They have left for Rigo Rice commercial farm in the Central Province to start their two months of intensive commercial rice training.
Minister Maru said he was very thankful to Rigo Rice for making the expertise and training available for this commercial rice farm trainees who will be Master Trainers after they complete their training. They will learn the skills of growing rice from nursery all the way to growing the rice, keeping the pests away, and milling. Part of the training will also involve the use of tractors and other equipment.
“After their two months of training they will return to the Sepik Plains where we expect to start the first commercial rice trial farm in November this year,” said Minister Maru.
From his experience of growing rice in Rigo for five years, Mr. Kennedy said he believed that PNG did not have to import K900 million worth of rice annually and said he was committed to work with the Government to build a local domestic rice industry to produce over 400, 000 metric tons of rice over the next 5 years.
“We must believe in ourselves as the time is right and I am happy to partner the Marape- Rosso Government under the SEZ program to lead this journey,” said Mr. Kennedy.
