By CHRISTOPHER YANDAWAI
THE Livestock Development Corporation (LDC) remains committed in implementing the National Cattle Building program as envisioned in the Government’s Medium-Term Development 3 (MTDP3).
On Sunday March 10, LDC management team led by Managing Director Terry Koim visited LDC Launakalana station in Central Province to see the progress of the cattle building activity there.
Accompanying the team were all media personnel from respective media organization in the country.
Launakalana station manager Jackson Tasi told the media that the cattle building activity at Launakalana commenced on high note and is progressing well with three shipments of cattle being made so far.
He said LDC started reviving Launakalana station in 2019 at the time when Mr. Koim was appointed the managing director for LDC by the government.
“First major restocking activity occurred in 2022 with about 120 plus cattle being brought into the station all the way from Sialum, Morobe Province.
“Then we did other two-shipments from Lae at the end of 2023,” Tasi said.
“Currently we have a total of 480 cattle but I think we have gone beyond 500 already due to natural increase (birth).”
The Launakalana station manager said they are looking at increasing the number over 1000 by the end of this year (2024).
“So, we are looking at another shipment of 300 from Makahm in Lae anytime soon.”
In respect to the wellbeing of the cattle, the Launakalana station manager said they are doing fine.
“The cattle are doing fine as we have a lot of local pastures, however, the pieces (pastures) are depleting at a faster rate given the increasing number of animals to feed.
“As we struggle against time, we are on our toes to create another lot of padlocks by going further into the bush.
“At the moment we have only five (5) padlocks which are not enough to cater for that 500 because every 1.5 to 2 hectares in a local pasture is for only one animal.”
Mr. Koim said so far LDC made a lot of progress in respect to National Cattle Building program.
“We have done three shipments to Launakalana from Morobe since 2022, some of them were from Sialum.
“So, what we are going to do in Launakalana is that we will increase the number up to more than a 1000.
“Then we will distribute the progenies (offspring) that will be born on this estate (Launakalana) to existing livestock farmers throughout the Central Province and later to the other parts of Southern Region,” he said.
Koim added that there are so many paper farmers out there who are coming up with promising looking stories.
“I do not believe in paper works, I want to actually go and see it on the ground.
“If you are getting your hands dirty and you are beating the heat of the sun to actually make things work in our country, the government wants to partner with this kind of Papua New Guineans who are willing to do the hard yards instead of complaining for government’s free handouts.
“So, LDC is looking forward to working with farmers in our country especially the community surrounding this area (Launakalana).
“If you are a livestock farmer, cattle farmer, and piggery farmer who wants to work with and for the government, you are most welcome to come and talk to our manager here for help,” he said.
Meanwhile, Koim said LDC has submitted NEC policy submission to the government last month for approval.
“We are expecting it to be approved by the NEC so that we can get instructions from the government to be able to formulate the policy.
“The policy has been formulated but it’s in draft form, so, we need government’s consent to be able to progress it and roll out the workshop to all the four regions so that we can gauge the views of livestock and every other stakeholder who is involve in livestock.”
He said based on the policy, LDC would be able to draft a legislation that is going to form the legal framework to capsulate in the regulatory authority.
“For now, we are waiting for the NEC to look at our submission and once approval is given to us, we will progress.”
