In Papua New Guinea, the Fresh Produce Development Agency (FPDA) has assisted farmers in the Gembogl and Mt Wilhelm areas with a onion solar dryer project to help them supply quality onions to top-end markets. It is an initiative of FPDA CEO Mark Worinu, intent on setting up model farms for rural farmers to engage in semi-commercial farming to generate income to sustain their livelihoods.
The FDA senior value chain officer Chris Suya, who has helped the recipient farming communities to set up the solar dryers, thanked Mr Worinu for involvement: "With this brilliant and innovative investment using cheap and affordable technology (solar energy), it will greatly boost farmers' capacity to produce and supply quality bulb onion. This project will add value to the whole supply chain process as quality of bulb onion will be maintained from the farm-gates to the top-end markets.“
"Bulb onions, as we all know, are on high market demand and are loved by everyone because of the delicious taste and aroma that spices up meals, as well as their numerous health benefits. This project, if spread out to all bulb onion farming communities in the country, could play a crucial role in improving quality, which would eventually help to cut down on its import.”
The solar dryer has a capacity to dry up to 15 tons of bulb onion, which is equivalent to 30 to 40 bags.
Spokesman Peter Poka, the chairman of Mt. Wilhelm Organic Farmers Cooperative Society lauded the FPDA for the initiative: "This is as a first of its kind help and morale booster for us to increase production of bulb onion. We have previously supplied bulb onion to some top-end markets but have received com-plaints that our supplies were not of quality standard. With this timely intervention from FPDA, this problem will now be addressed as we look forward to provide quality and meet their demand."
Source: postcourier.com.pg