North Fly MP James Donald presenting the cheque to Mr Kuman while Mr Kaiyun looks on
Member for North Fly District Honorable James Donald wants local residents in Ningerum, along the Kiunga-Tabubil highway to venture into agricultural activities for long term benefits.
He said agriculture is the way forward for people in Western Province which would create more employment opportunities for locals and generate an income for individuals and families.
‘’Don’t think that the Ok Tedi mine will stay forever. In the event it closes, agriculture will sustain you.’’ he said.
Mr. Donald was speaking during the ground-breaking ceremony for the Digam to Hukim road maintenance on June 16th, which was also attended by Western Province Governor Taboi Awi Yoto, Provincial Administrator Robert Alphonse Kaiyun, and other ward presidents and dignitaries in Ningrum Station.
During the ceremony, the North Fly MP also presented an excavator and a new vehicle.
The Member also presented a cheque of K1.15 million to the Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF) management to help drive agribusinesses in communities through the WestAgro Holdings Limited. The money would be used to purchase every one of the 115 North Fly District Wards a K10,000 share in Fly Vanilla.
Mr Donald while encouraging people to tap into agri-businesses, he said that in line with the Fly River Provincial Government’s four key areas of health, education, agriculture and enabling infrastructure, the province was capable of producing a variety of agricultural products, including vanilla, rice, cocoa and rubber.
OTDF’s executive manager for program services Eric Kuman while receiving the cheque thanked Mr Donald and said that WestAgro Holdings would use the money to support commercial vanilla development activities in Western Province.