Greens Party makes call for self-reliance

THE country has been urged to stop importing food that can be grown in the country to give local farmers an incentive to produce on a large scale.
Papua New Guinea Greens party president Dorothy Tekwie made the comment when announcing her party’s agriculture policy during World Food Day.
She said PNG must start planning to feed its people and the many visitors who would visit.
“Five provinces will be declared the food bowls of PNG under a Greens government,” she said.
“It is time government is serious with our farmers and it must provide incentives to feed our people.”
She said a Greens government in 2012 would see a ban on the import of fruits, vegetables and meat that could be produced locally.
Tekwie urged visitors to eat home- grown and produced food to help the economy.
“In turn it will improve the living standards of rural communities who have been neglected
for years,” she said.
Greens party secretary general Andrew Kutapae said instead of importing food, local produce should be  grown in Eastern and Western Highlands, Jiwaka, Morobe and Central provinces as they would be declared the food
bowls of PNG under a Greens government policy.