Govt will ensure enough support for oil palm: PM

PRIME Minister James Marape has issued directives to ensure continuous support for oil palm smallholder growers.
He said this included the ongoing supply of seedlings through nurseries, the establishment of a mill dedicated to smallholder growers, and the acquisition of more land for oil palm cultivation to bolster the economy.
Marape emphasised the potential for growth in Papua New Guinea’s oil palm industry during a meeting yesterday with Oil Palm Minister Francis Maneke and Oil Palm Industry Corporation (OPIC) general secretary Kepson Pupita.
The industry, which contributed K2.8 billion in export revenue in 2022, is seen as having the capacity to be as influential as the mining and petroleum sectors.
Marape commended the efforts of Maneke and Pupita, particularly highlighting the impact of the National Oil Palm Intervention Programme (NOPIP).
This programme marks the first instance of the Marape Government directly funding the supply of seedlings to smallholder growers in the oil palm provinces, aiming to enhance the industry’s sustainability and growth.
“I set up the Oil Palm Ministry to grow the industry and not to maintain the status quo, where the industry continues to be dominated by private companies,” Marape said.
He said expanding the current smallholder cultivation area could substantially increase the sector’s revenue.
“If the current smallholder crop of 15,000 hectares brings in K300 million annually, we can make smore money if we increase the land.”
Marape’s vision includes forging partnerships with provincial governments for land provision and ensuring the availability of seedlings, with the goal of establishing mills to support the industry’s growth.
He expressed a particular interest in utilising the grasslands of the Markham and Ramu valleys, as well as the Sepik Plains, for oil palm cultivation, citing the crop’s superior investment return.