Highlands farmers count heavy losses as flight cancellations leave produce rotting at Kagamuga
Highlands farmers supplying fresh vegetables and fruits to Port Moresby markets are counting heavy losses after repeated Air Niugini flight cancellations left tones of produce rotting at Kagamuga Airport in Western Highlands Province.
An agri-fresh produce farmer, who requested anonymity, told NBC News that individual farmers have lost more than 5,000 kilograms of fresh produce after it was left for two nights in a malfunctioning, unrefrigerated storage facility at the airport.
The farmer said the problem is not new, saying it has been a long-standing crisis that has affected aggregated fresh produce farmers for nearly eight years.
More than 10 aggregated farmers from Western Highlands, Jiwaka, Simbu and Enga provinces have been stranded at Kagamuga Airport since Monday, with bags of highly perishable vegetables and fruits unable to reach Port Moresby.
Much of the produce was destined for hotels, supermarkets and catering companies in the capital, but has since suffered severe quality deterioration, making it unsuitable for sale.
“We face planning issues every year; flight cancellations, delays and air returns; and we don’t have any backup system,” the farmer said.
“Each farmer loses between K100,000 and K150,000 annually because there is no proper cool storage facility to preserve the produce when flights are cancelled.”
The farmer said Papua New Guinea has between 10 and 12 major aggregators, most of whom supply supermarkets, hotels and commercial outlets, yet there is still no rescue plan to protect farmers when flights are disrupted.
“We don’t have a cool storage facility to keep the vegetables fresh when flights are cancelled. Once the produce spoils, that’s our income gone,” the farmer said.
The aggrieved farmers are now calling on Air Niugini and relevant authorities to urgently invest in a reliable cold storage facility at Kagamuga airport and consider introducing a freighter service to support the transportation of fresh produce.
Meanwhile, NBC News is seeking comments from Air Niugini and the Department of Agriculture regarding the ongoing issue.