Industry facing challenges, official says

Main Stories, National
Source:

The National, Friday November 20th, 2015

 By SAMSON JOHN

 

THE fresh produce and horticulture industry is worth a billion kina but it continues to face challenges, an official says.

Department of Agriculture and Livestock Secretary Dr Vele Ila’ava said the domestic fresh food market was valued at K2.5 billion in 2013.

He revealed that yesterday during the launching of the Pacific Horticulture and Agricultural Market Access by the governments of Australia and PNG in Port Moresby.

“The industry has new challenges in recent times given the increased consumer demand from the rapidly growing rural and urban populations, increased business activities due to the resource boom, and of course the competition from imports,” he said.

“PNG fresh food and horticultural farmers are gradually shifting from subsistence farming to commercial farming where they are now able to grow and sell produce.

“Key challenges faced by the local farmers include poor road and transport conditions, high freight costs, absence of coordinated cool chain systems (post-harvest handling), poor flow of appropriate information leading to inconsistency in supply resulting in quality and supply issues to markets.”

He said the challenges were further exacerbated by inadequate policy and regulatory framework and bureaucratic red tape.  

“Consequently, PNG’s local fresh produce commodities are less competitive against the imports resulting in many local vegetable producers missing out on domestic markets.”