Central to make agriculture its top development agenda

THE Central government plans to make agriculture its top development agenda, according to Governor Robert Agarobe.
He said the provincial government would promote land mobilisation and create opportunities for development partners and investors to develop agriculture.
Agarobe said growing rice was not new to the Central people as it was introduced by missionaries in the 1900s in Mekeo, Kairuku district. He said the people had been growing red, purple and black rice since then.
Agarobe said Central, neighbouring the country’s largest urban centre of Port Moresby, had a huge potential for local farm produce including rice.
The country imports 240 tonnes of rice annually costing up to K600 million.
He said the rice project was significant to supply the highest quality and quantity of seeds capable of meeting our domestic seed needs.
“For any agriculture industry to develop progressively and meet growing demands of the domestic and global population, it must first and foremost improve its own seed production base and capacity which is the foundation to its success,” Agorobe said.