Baing: PNG should focus on agriculture for progress

PAPUA New Guinea should focus on developing agriculture to boost the national economy, according to Save PNG coordinator Jennifer Baing.
She said at a conference on Monday that the government had been too focused on foreign investments and investors to the prejudice of the agriculture sector.
Baing said a huge percentage of the population comprised small farmers and they needed a link to agricultural markets because there is productivity in rural and remote areas.
“A body should be set up to find markets for farmers,” she said.
“There is productivity and people need to have access to markets because agriculture is the driving force of transforming the national economy.”
Baing called on the government to work in partnership with the majority who are experiencing “financial poverty”.
“Financial inclusion is one area needed for development, economic growth and better delivery mechanism,” she said.
Bank South Pacific (BSP) New Guinea Islands rural manager Ruby Patu said 85% of Papua New Guineans residing in rural areas had no access to financial services.
She said this contributed to a lack of participation in the economic development of PNG over the last few years.
The PNG New Voices conference covered topics including the rise of Asia and the impact on PNG’s economy and access to financial services,  to name a few.