Rice Runs Out In Three Highland Provinces In Papua New Guinea

PORT MORESBY, April 28 Asia Pulse - Trukai rice has run out in the regional depot in Papua New Guinea's (PNG) Mt Hagen, leaving consumers in at least three highland provinces with no choice but to switch to other staples.

Trukai's highlands regional sales and marketing manager Joe Turlom told The National Thursday that all the remaining stocks of Trukai and Roots rice at their main depot ran out on Tuesday. There is nothing left.

Mr Turlom said the leftovers were equally distributed to all major wholesalers and retailers in Mt Hagen, Mendi and Wabag in the previous week.

He said casual workers have been laid off and, soon, the warehouse will be closed.

Mr Turlom said the Okuk Highway, which has been cut off for two weeks as a result of a massive landslide just outside Kundiawa, Simbu province, must be re-opened soon to avoid a major food crisis in the highlands.

Constant rain and flood in many parts of the highlands has affected farmland and destroyed gardens, forcing villagers to turn to rice. However, without transport, rice supplies into the highlands have also run out.

Apart from rice, other basics goods like sugar, flour and cooking oil have also run out in shops in Mt Hagen.

(Pacnews)