Agribusiness

In line with the national government’s directive for the agriculture industry, the provincial government is committed to reach the target set for the province, through an agreement signed with the PNG Cocoa Board this year.

The Gulf Provincial Government had initially signed an agreement in 2018 but it was never progressed until it expired.

Home to more than 9,000 rural people, spread across 1,500 cocoa farming households, this remote community faced formidable challenges.

Their cocoa farms were less productive, incomes were meagre, and their educational and health facilities were in disrepair.

Yet, amidst these challenges, the villagers of Hambini dared to dream of a brighter future for their children and access to essential healthcare.

Agribusiness is definitely one of the ways we can do that, said Australia Awards alumna, Rosemary Imara.

Rosemary is passionate about helping fellow Papua New Guineans to build better lives for themselves and their communities by making use of the huge potential of agriculture in PNG.

“Papua New Guineans have great potential to transform our land into farmlands and create our own agribusiness,” she said.

It is progressing on improving the efficiency of value chain enablers, including sustainable, climate-proof transport infrastructure development in Papua New Guinea.

Led by the International Labour Organization (ILO), these two roads will support farming communities involved in cocoa, vanilla, and fisheries production to access further markets with more rewarding prices, and open up rural communities for agribusiness opportunities.

Led by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Banak-Wautogik road is one of two roads that will support farming communities involved in cocoa, vanilla, and fisheries production to access further markets with more rewarding prices, and open up rural communities for agribusiness opportunities.

Straight after the unveiling, local firm Hiawani Ltd who has been awarded the contract started with grading and clearing of the initial roads section.

PNG Agbook working with the PNG Cocoa Board, organized two sets of trainings for rural farmers in the Sepik region of Papua New Guinea.

Twenty-three (23) farmers who represented farmer groups and agribusinesses in the Sandaun and East Sepik provinces were eager participants in the trainings conducted recently over a two-week period at the PNG Cocoa Board nursery site in Hawain, Wewak District, East Sepik Province.

Local MP, James Donald, said North Fly Agro Limited would be the implementing entity that would push for the development of agriculture and related business activities in the district.

“I am pleased to announce on behalf of the board of North Fly District Development Authority (NFDDA) by presenting the Certificate of Incorporation from Investment Promotion Authority to the CEO and MD for North Fly Agro Limited, Nawani Devet.”

Recently, 26 participants of the Australia Awards Fellowships were in Port Moresby preparing for studies in agribusiness.

The course will enable participants in the agriculture and production horticulture industry to develop business skills to support growth and productivity.

At the workshop, participants discussed business plans, supply chains, product commercialisation and marketing principles for their organisations. They also completed workshop site visits at Nine-Mile Farm, Duffy Cafe and Stop N Shop to learn first-hand what it means to manage a successful business.

The agriculture advisor for Imbonggu district, Paulus Mosby said the climate and fertile soil in most parts of the district best suited vegetable, rice and wheat farming.

Mosby has been on this job since 2002 and has personally trialled and proven with small village-based farmers throughout SHP that vegetable and grain crop farming had huge potential in the province.

However, he noted that “the biggest impediment” was the lack of National and Southern Highlands Provincial Government (SHPG) funding support for all agriculture extension work since 2002.

Close to 70 cocoa farmers under the Agmark Farmer Discussion group in East New Britain took to two weeks' of training - half of them women. 

PPAP project manager Martin Powell said extra cash available could lead to social issues including a rise in the numbers of people with HIV AIDS.

Pictured are some of the cocoa farmers after the event.