Association wants funds redirected

FARMERS and Settlers Association President Wilson Thompson says the Government should redirect the K230 million for school project fees, the K60 million for fuel subsidies and cost-of-living pressures to the fisheries, forestry, agriculture and livestock sectors.
“Stop the handouts, subsidy and price support that are spread too thinly with little impact on the economy,” he said.
“Budget 2023 is critical for economic development, employment creation, expansion of the primary industry sector, economic growth and increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“Paying school fees is a handout and is not helping Papua New Guinea to increase agriculture production and downstream processing.
“If we shift K800 million from consumption to investments, we can see K2 billion in returns on that investment within two years.
“The Government has already done well by budgeting almost K830 million that would encourage laziness.
“Hence, we request that the monies should be redirected to increase the funding for K100 million each for fisheries and forestry, K100 million for Livestock to increase the breeding stock, improve our nutrition intake and for self-sufficiency in meat, K50 million for local grains production and feed manufacturing.
“The oldest industries, namely rubber and coconut, should be increased by K50 million each and the other K200 million spread between coffee, cocoa, spice, oil palm and fresh food production, and K50 million for national extension and training services programme.
“The remaining K50 million should be spread across Nari, Naqia, National Research Institute, Forest Research Institute and to the tertiary institutions teaching agriculture, forestry, fisheries and livestock courses, so that we build on the Government’s emphasis on increasing GDP to K200 billion.”