PNG must learn from Indian lesson
Let us look at the experiences of our neighbours and learn from them.
The green revolution is the first step in the right direction but it must be given ‘tooth’ to make significant contribution in changing the destiny of our country.
Perhaps we can learn from India, which is rapidly becoming the next world superpower.
India’s green revolution initially was good and well received by the farmers as they were given loans, technical support, etc.
The emphasis was on food security with little concern to the country’s ability to support its farmers in generating sustainable economic livelihood off their land.
The assumption was the farmer would sell the extra to supplement his income. Unfortunately that did not happen.
The cost of production is too high, making farming unattractive as profits is eaten up by high costs.
However, India is making headlines because of its super rapid growth in one generation in information technology (IT), biotechnology and corporate business.
At present, 25% of the population still live in acute poverty but the economy is growing by the hour.
The middle class is growing and there is now a narrow base of people living in poverty.
However, whether that acute poverty is caused by other social economic factors such as the class system and religion is beside the point.
India is definitely progressing.
Papua New Guinea is embarking on a similar journey India once took. We are going into overdrive mode in bringing about ‘green revolution’.
However, unlike India, we are not showing much investment on IT and biotechnology.
The possible scenarios 20 years from now is that we will have farmers still owing money because their production is not enough to repay the loans.
This is already evident in the high cost of living in PNG.
How will local farmers prosper amidst competition from global prices?
PNG still has a long way to go in striking fine balance between supply and pricing in agriculture commodities.
By investing on IT and biotechnology simultaneously while bottle feeding the ‘green revolution’ will no doubt bring the country forward in the long term.
Taiwan did that and it is now considered Asia’s IT centre.
Indonesia and other Asian countries are following suit.

Gawac Ng2, Brisbane
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