Govt has neglected agro sector, Barker says

 Institute of National Affairs executive director Paul Barker has stressed that the agriculture sector has noted negligence by the National Government. 

He said a letter sent to Prime Minister Peter O’Neill this week from industry representatives highlighted that the National Government was not doing enough for the sector.

 “A letter that went to the prime minister this week from Rural 

Industries Council, Business Council of PNG and CIMC’s (Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council) agriculture committee highlighting the extreme concern from the agriculture sector 

regarding the negligence towards the sector … but not just negligence.” 

Barker said he was concerned some of the good initiatives were not properly embraced. 

“The current drive that would undermine the agriculture sector and investors’ confidence which I’m particularly concerned about were the initiatives that seemed to be driven up the Agriculture Minister’s office and some of the efforts to take control as it were with embracing legislation.” 

He said the agriculture industries were there to assist farmers.

 “They are not there to tell farmers what to do but to actually recognise that the farmers are the very people and the only other people driving the agriculture sector,” he said.