Establish food market system: Researcher

 By JUNIOR UKAHA

WEALTH derived from the mineral and energy sector should be used to fund a national food market system, a researcher says.

National Agriculture Research Institute director general Dr Sergie Bang said a national food market system would stimulate the economy, create employment and provide food security for the people.

Bang spoke yesterday at a fresh produce workshop in Goroka, Eastern Highlands. The workshop was organised by the Fresh Produce Development Agency, Institute of National Affairs and the Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council.

“We need a national food market system,” Bang said.

“We are always talking about the problems but we are not talking about how we are going to bring the fresh produce to the markets. We can grow food but where is the market?”

He said the institute supported the idea of developing a national food market. 

“From all the money coming in (from natural resource developments), you have to invest it in agriculture to see the impact,” Bang said.

“That’s where the majority of the people are. That’s the area where there are lots of opportunities to create their own employment and income.”

Bang said the 80,000 school drop outs that come out of school every year could find employment in the agriculture sector if a “value-added food supply chain” and national food market system were created.

He said the daily income of 86 per cent (5.6 million) people in the country was dependent on agriculture.