Fresh Produce gets pat on the back for liking local produce

Business

National Planning and Monitoring Minister Richard Maru has commended Fresh Produce Development Agency (FPDA) for enhancing the domestic fruit and vegetable industry in rural areas.
“In my recent discussion with the FPDA management team, I am impressed with their increased efforts in trying to integrate the food crop industry into the mainstream economy and become a dynamic player in addressing the governments’ agenda in growing the economy,” he said.
“There is huge potential for exports of many of our indigenous crops to overseas, markets and that requires increased investment in the food crop sector.”
Maru said exporting food crops from Papua New Guinea had huge potential but was limited by gaps in meeting biosecurity levels of other countries.
This could be improved through partnerships with New Zealand, which was a global leader in this area, he said.
“On my recent visit to New Zealand, I discussed the issue of biosecurity with the New Zealand government,” Maru said.
“They have positively responded in terms of providing appropriate support through collaborative efforts to address biosecurity issues in PNG.”