Growers dispute new body

 By SHIRLEY MAULUDU

THE Papua New Guinea Growers Association has disputed the establishment of the Oil Palm Industry Corporation (OPIC).

In a statement, the association argued that there was no consultation with stakeholders, including millers and growers when the OPIC Act 1992 was put together.

The association said as such they had encountered issues to which the Act did not provide them solutions.

However, PNG Oil Palm Industry Corporation (OPIC) acting general secretary Leslie Wungen said there seemed to be confusion between the old act (1992) and new Oil Palm Board Act 2014 draft.

He said the corporation was an extension of the Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL) – specifically for the oil palm industry.  

During that time, he explained that associations of smallholder growers were non- existent.

He said all agriculture commodity boards and agencies were now being rationalised, which included the oil palm industry. 

Wungen said there have been several attempts made over the years to amend the act but with no acceptable outcome. 

However, he said through this exercise, information presented at OPIC board meetings have been collected by DAL from which the new Oil Palm Board Act 2014 was being drafted.

ThePNG GrowersAssociation is requesting that the National Government make available the draft of PNG Oil Palm Board Act 2014 so they too can have say in formulation of the Act.