Agriculture show timely

THE recent Agricultural Innovations Show 2018 in Lae under theme ‘Our Bio-security, our Food and Nutrition, our Health,’ was very timely
In culminating 10 years of continuous research, National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI) has been playing a crucial role in innovative agricultural and economic development in the country.
Agriculture was once the backbone of this country’s economy, but over the years the focus shifted to the extractive industry, thrusting this sector almost to oblivion.
It is very pleasing now to see the Government placing emphasis in diversifying our economy and focusing more on the renewable sector and particularly agriculture.
This shift of focus now is welcoming as it is crucial to the long-term sustainability and prosperity of our people and country.
The key to unlocking the huge potential in agriculture is bio-security.
Biosecurity is the need for preventive measures to reduce the risk of transmission of infectious diseases in crops and livestock, quarantined pests, invasive alien species, and living modified organisms.
It is important that we must now look for an integrated approach that encompasses the policy and regulatory frameworks that analyse and manage risks in the sectors of food safety, animal life and health, and plant life and health, including related environmental risk.
Biosecurity system is an essential national trade and economic barrier and its strength and effectiveness is paramount.
Biosecurity risks are increasing due to increased global trade and travel, increased agricultural expansion and intensification, increased urbanisation and other factors such as climate change.
PNG’s approach to biosecurity must be science-based.
Research and innovation underpins and target investments in technological innovations, and can help reduce the high cost of disease surveillances.
It is very clear that high bio-security standards and policies are needed to safeguard our agriculture, food and nutritional security, wellbeing of our people and environment.
Our scientists must focus on research-based solutions to manage devastating impacts that invasive and alien and diseases inflict on our economy, our environment and our way of life.
It is important that the PNG national biosecurity system should not exist as a single physical or legal entity but should be institutionalised and built on shared responsibility, cooperation, investments and actions by local, provincial and national governments, industry, exporters, importers, researchers and communities.
Our Government must protect our productive industries, environment and human health from pests and diseases by prioritising the pathways of entry and providing new technologies for surveillance and early response.
The biosecurity system faces increasing pressures.
PNG is a major commodity-exporting and importing nation.
A favourable biosecurity status underpins lower food production costs for primary producers and access to export markets, while supporting PNG’s contribution in a secure global food supply and protecting our unique environment and way of life.

David Lepi
Ialibu
Southern Highlands