Association happy to improve local produce market

 The Government has responded to the pressure of various chambers of commerce and industry and others who did not understand the reasons for import ban, the farmers and settlers association says

The association which was instrumental in promoting local farmers and actually recommending the ban on imports of uncooked poultry and vegetables has expressed great concern that the Government has caved into the pressure from the various chambers of commerce and industry and other commentators. 

President Wilson Thompson said the issues of policy, transport, markets, quality, sufficient quantity and reliable supply has always been here in Papua New Guinea some 30 years ago and the same reasons continued to be peddled by the opponents of the ban. 

“The same reasons were used during resource extraction of Ok Tedi, Lihir, Misima, Porgera, Kainantu and we continued to import without even nurturing our local industries,” Thompson said.

“If the ban or quota was enforced during the LNG construction period, by now the supply and demand including quality should have been addressed and certain crops which we could not supply could still be allowed in. But the same business community argued that PNG did not have the capacity to supply the needs of the LNG alone.”

“While that may have been correct, the  Government would have intervened to ensure the locals used the opportunity to upscale their production as well as improve the quality based on the needs of the market. 

“We can’t produce pears, grapes, apples, rhubarb and parsley, rock melons which can be imported but why allow imports when potatoes, tomatoes , cabbage, garlic and onions and broccoli have been grown since the colonial era.”