Department head estimates K428 million agriculture budget

THE indicative budget requirement for the agriculture sector stands at about K428 million annually over the medium term, an official says.
Agriculture and Livestock Department (DAL) secretary Daniel Kombuk said this was from 2020-2022.
Kombuk said DAL attempted a sectorial approach to budgeting for 2020. “I know production in major cash crops and livestock have been stagnant over the years despite huge government investments in PIP (Public Investment Programme) and donor-funded projects such as the World Bank’s PPAP (productive partnerships in agriculture project),” he said during a commodity board retreat in Port Moresby yesterday. “This trend must now change.
“However, as a sector, we cannot move forward until and unless we are coordinated and have a sectorial approach to our strategies.
“The sector must be led by the lead government agency which is DAL.”
Meanwhile, the recently-appointed secretary further noted that he had started the process at the policy level by establishing a national project steering committee (PSC).
“The PSC has never been operational for the government-funded projects in the past except for donor-funded projects,” he said.
Kombuk said PSC was a mandatory requirement under the non-financial instructions in the budget appropriation Bills.
He added that in terms of the sector plan, he would like to see that happening vigorously in pursuing the two market platforms that Prime Minister James Marape outlined during the recent launching of the Tambul plan.