Encourage PNG producation

Letters

PAPUA New Guinea has come over 40 years but cannot produce the 200,000 metric tonnes of rice it consumes every year.
It imports rice grown in Thailand and Australia, even though PNG has enough land to grow its own domestic requirements.
In the area of tobacco, there is enough land to produce tobacco for a local factory to support a population of four million active smokers.
Yet, companies are importing and monopolising the distribution.
Any company who wants to produce local cigarettes should be encouraged and guided by enabling laws to do so.
A factory will create a market for out growers to grow a specified variety and supply at a contracted price.
All Government agencies should strike a balance between the influence of big multi-nationals and others who want to compete and give real business back to the grassroots.
Trial production and marketing to penetrate the local market should be encouraged.

Please look at the big picture to encourage more cash flow circulation in the local economy, rather than depleting our foreign exchange by consuming products not produced in our God-given fertile land.

Observer