Agriculture

Despite PNG having an abundance of fertile land capable of growing various agricultural crops and is also home to one of the largest tuna populations in the world, the development of this sector remains stagnant.

‘The Report: Papua New Guinea 2016’ by the Oxford Business Group expects growth in these two areas of the sector based on increasing global commodity prices.

However, there needs to be investment in in priority areas such as infrastructure, technology, and logistics.

The participants are from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Vanuatu and the Pacific Community (SPC).

The exchange is supported by the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU (CTA), the Caribbean Agriculture Research and Development Institute (CARDI) and SPC through the European Union supported Agriculture Policy Project (PAPP).

ABG President, John Momis said that South Bougainville has taken a lead with developing its primary industries with support from foreign investors to operate on with equal benefit sharing arrangements as per Bougainville’s Inward Investment Act.

Momis said that in areas that are lacking, the ABG has always encouraged partnerships between locals and credible foreign investors who can contribute meaningfully to Bougainville’s economy.

Meanwhile, the amount of arable land is decreasing, and farmers face mounting challenges.

Climate Corporation aims to take the guesswork out of issues like weather and crop disease. The 10-year-old company offers a slate of "digital agriculture" tools that provide a real-time, Facebook-esque feed about what's happening on a farm at every moment.

The unstable world market price, compounded with declining prices of crude oil and liquefied natural gas are the main factors in government forcasted revenues falling.

Agriculture Minister, Tommy Tomscoll said, "PNG must move quickly back to its traditional renewable export sector.

But in the long term, it is important to diversify export dependence so that the underlying economy is pinned by a strong mixture of diversified exports and strong foreign direct investment.

The project aims to promote local production enhancing food security;

The farms operation began in March 2014.

The farm employs approximately 160 workers and produces currently around 12 Metric tonnes of prime vegetables weekly.

Apart from supplying markets in PNG they also export weekly to Fiji.

But like any other Agriculture business they face challenges in sourcing finance, land issues, lack of infrastructure, transportation and foreign exchange.

Basil said removing the uncooked poultry ban will lower the price of poultry products but this could affect local producers with many Papua New Guineans losing their job.

“The sad news is that local poultry producers like of Zenag Chicken, Niugini Tablebirds and other small producers will suffer from the sudden influx of cheaper imported products cutting back on sales output and profit margins which means job cuts and loss of income.

Minister Duban, in partnership with cocoa nursery and materials and delivered to the six Cocoa Cooperative societies in Transgogol Local Level Government in Madang District.

The six cocoa cooperative societies in Transgogol LLG are; Keram, Gogol Naru, Madang West, and Kamate with each receiving K30,000 while Kamate receives the highest with K50,000.

Madang Open MP’s electoral officer Collins Iwap said Minister Duban provided the funds last year to to the cooperative societies and to help the growers get good cocoa nurseries to grow and sustain their lives.

The head of the business community in the nation’s capital was referring to the knee jerk lifting of the ban on imported vegetables after three months.

“Such moves (of banning imported vegetables) are good in the long run to replace imports and we support it,” Conn said. 

He also challenged the government to support the Agriculture and Livestock Department with funding to improve the sector.   

“Government has to give true support to the agriculture sector instead of the lip service we have seen for the last 30 years.

Some 250 leaders, decision-makers and agrifood actors will be gathering for the first Caribbean and Pacific Agrifood Forum. A key event for both regions, the forum will be held from November 2 to 6, an action-packed week devoted to exploring how an agribusiness approach can drive rural development in small island states.