Agriculture sector needs policy framework

THE Government needs to develop an enabling policy framework to address the fragmented nature of agricultural sector, an agricultural meeting in Port Moresby was told yesterday.
The meeting was organised by the Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council (CIMC).
The meeting heard a number of CIMC’s recommendations at last month’s National Agriculture Conference which highlighted lack of effective management and coordination at the Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL).CIMC said there was a need to replace ministerial appointing powers to head the department with an open and transparent consultation process to ensure that the most suitable person was selected on merit.The meeting was told, transition from the previous Department of Primary Industry (DPI) to the current DAL model was a contributing factor in the lack of focus for developing the agricultural sector.It recommended DAL be turned into an authority.
The meeting heard presentations from DAL, findings and recommendations from variours agriculture sector and organisations in the country.