Board vacancies concern association

A farmers association is raising concerns over the government’s lack of commitment to filling vacancies on various agriculture and livestock commodity boards.

This includes the delay in appointment of chief executive officers as well as a permanent Department Secretary.

Wilson Thompson, President of the Farmers & Settlers Association, expressed his concerns recently, urging the Department of Public Service and Agriculture Minister to appoint a permanent Department of Agriculture and Livestock secretary and fill other vacancies.

Thompson said while the government has done the right thing by focusing on agriculture and on SME development in the Alotau Accord II, it needs to get the systems and processes in place to implement the Government objectives.

“The Agriculture Sector commodity boards and agencies are confused as to where the policy direction is and which functions are under the Ministry and the sector. These include defining what SMEs are in the agriculture sector and how they will be assisted,” he stated.

Thompson said the National Development Bank and the National Plantation Management Agency (NPMA) were supposed to guide and expand the agriculture and agri processing industries but their responsibilities have been taken away and given to the Minister for State Enterprises. 

He believes the Minister for Public Service needs to review the terms of the Board members and the Chief Executive Officer of all commodity boards such as Coffee Industry Corporation, Cocoa Board, Kokonas Indastri Koporesen (KIK), Spice Board, Rubber Board, Livestock Development Corporation, Oil Palm Industry Corporation, Fresh Produce Development Agency, National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI), National Agriculture Quarantine Inspection Authority (NAQIA), National Plantation Management Agency and Coconut and Cocoa Research Institute.

“The Secretary for the Department must be appointed urgently as he is required to give advice and direction to the industry and sector.”

(Direction needed in SME and agriculture development)

Author: 
Press release