Focus on health,agriculture

THE shortage of funds to purchase medicines has received much publicity.
Most developed countries are also facing funding problems for the health sector.
The policy now adopted in developed countries is to look at ways of reducing health expenditure on treatments of ailments by focusing on healthy lifestyles and healthy food.
The connection between good health, both physical and mental, and the foods that we eat has been researched and it is clear that there is a connection between what we eat and our mental and physical well-being.
We must eat healthy food to be healthy.
Avoid sausages and corned beef and eat plant-based foods as our ancestors did.
Plant-based legumes such as lentils and beans have become very important during the last 10 years as it has become clear that animal proteins are unsustainable due to population increase and climate change.
European countries have focused on soya beans and peas to provide the needed proteins in the family diet.
Supermarket shelves in Europe display sausages and meat made from soya beans and lentils.
It is also noteworthy that the United Nations and other agencies deliver rice, wheat flour and lentils during disaster relief operations.
Recent news items regarding agriculture development has revealed a huge gap in agricultural policy namely the growing of legumes.
A kilo of legumes such as chick peas, beans, green peas and other legumes is between K16 and K19.
Farmers would be interested in growing such crops if there is a board such as the coffee board or spice board progressing the crop.
The Agriculture Department should have a pulses division to develop this lucrative and nutritious crop.
PNG should focus on developing a range of pulses such as chick peas, lentils and soya beans.
Traditionally, PNG food has been mainly plant-based.
Health authorities have also released news items where they have indicated that the consumption of fatty meat foods such as corned beef and sausages has created a huge health problem resulting in massive expenses treating heart attacks.
Many people are dying with heart problems caused by eating fatty foods and poor lifestyles.
Companies are making money at the expense of lives lost and poor health.
The health minister and the agriculture minister have much in common when it comes to feeding the nation.
Joint policies must be developed to combat the health issues and tackle the nutrition needs of the nation.
The opportunity has arrived with the prime minister focusing on agriculture and health as development goals.

Ajit Muttu