Govt reviewing sector’s plan

THE Government is reviewing and consulting for a new medium-term revenue strategy 2022-2027 with the agriculture sector.
Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey in a statement said all commodity boards led by acting secretary, Steven Mombi, were invited to treasury to submit their industry specific plans numbering over 20 volumes.
“With our financing plans bedded down for 2022, Treasury must now restart its review for sustainable revenue initiatives within our agriculture sector,” Ling-Stuckey said.
He advised the meeting that there was a disconnect between agriculture as the main sector for sustainable revenue growth and its disproportionate budgetary allocations. Ling-Stuckey said his department and the Agriculture Ministry had agreed to continue the consultation process, identify issues and implement remedies that would improve the allocation of resources to farmers in the country.
He said it was agreed that more than 20 strategic and annual plans representing all commodity boards and livestock needed comprehensive review and even critiques and that independent experts, both local and foreign, would be considered for the task, subject to the approval of the Agriculture Minister.
“The Marape Government’s medium-term revenue plan for 2022-2027 was scheduled to be completed by November this year, so that it can feed into the medium-term development plan for 2022-2027 and be used as reference material by coalition partners in government, to formulate their policy platforms to seek mandate in the 2022 general elections.
“I need the full cooperation of Treasury and Planning officials now and into the new year,” Ling-Stuckey said.