Dept looks at bringing back livestock industry

By JEFFREY ELAPA
THE Livestock Development Corporation (LDC) is trying to resurrect this declining industry, managing director Robin Hundupi says.
He said in an interview that livestock production in the country had decreased, forcing Papua New Guineans to buy cheap imports like lamb flaps.
Hundupi said Department of Agriculture and Livestock, through LDC, was trying to increase production of pork and beef.
He said livestock within the mandate of LDC included cattle, poultry, pigs, sheep, goats, rabbits, apiculture (beekeeping), and aquaculture (fish farming).
Hundupi said PNG currently produced 1400-2000 tonnes of meat annually for domestic consumption.
He said in order to meet the local demand, the country imported 14,000 tonnes of meat annually at a cost of K30 million.
Hundupi said 70 per cent of imported beef was used by two commercial canneries to produce corned beef and other products.
“In all, the livestock sub-sector contributes about 15 per cent of the total domestic food production and about 12 per cent of the gross domestic product,” he said.
“The current target, as established under the PNG Development Strategic Plan (PNGDSP) 2010-2030, is to increase domestic production to four million metric tonnes by 2030.”
Hundupi said the current production was 400,000 tonnes, which was only 10 per cent of the meat target set by the PNGDSP.
He said LDC had six large ranches and three abattoirs.
The ranches are Tiaba Demonstration and Launakalana farms in Central, Zuguru and Bihute farms in Eastern Highlands, Erap Farm in Morobe and Sagalau Farm in Madang. Hundupi said the three abattoirs were Tiaba in Central, Goroka and Madang.
He said the LDC had a long-term plan to increase production in the country.