Govt price support announced

PRIME Minister James Marape in the presence of Agriculture Minister John Simon and more than 5,000 local cocoa, vanilla and coffee growers announced the price support for agricultural produce in Maprik, East Sepik.
Marape said this meant the growers would get a better price for their produce.
“We will partner with districts and provinces who want to help the national government empower our people with increased revenue from their investments in agriculture,” he said.
Marape said this in the presence of Governor for East Sepik Allan Bird and Ministers William Duma (State Enterprise), Jimmy Uguro (Education) and Solan Mirisim (Defence).
“There is a global demand for coffee, vanilla, cocoa, copra, oil palm, rubber etc… and with the Government’s investment to give a good price to the growers, this will mean increased production, exports to benefit the country and its people,” he said.
He said all citizens had land which they could use to grow cash crops and with Government interventions like price support and other incentives and initiatives would see economic growth at the district and provincial levels.
Marape said this was the fundamental difference between his Government and the Opposition; his administration was one that aimed to empower the people and not just give free handouts.
“My government is focused on empowering majority of the people who are presently living a subsistence life.”
Marape said it was a deliberate policy to bring the majority into the cash economy.
“We are not talking but implementing our policies through budget supports as such and the SME loan schemes,” he said.
“I encourage citizens not to be lazy and take up an small-medium enterprise (SME) and agriculture is in a profitable SME space.”