Meet discusses bio-security issues

THE agriculture policy forum was in response to poultry bio-security issues and threats accompanying imported poultry products last year.
The bio-security forum attracted participants from companies within the poultry and livestock industry.
The recommendations from the forum paved the way for National Agriculture Quarantine Inspection Authority (Naqia) to draft a bio-security policy pending Government (NEC) approval.
Nari director general Dr Sergie Bang said the issue of importing chicken meat into country and the threat of bacteria and pests accompanying it resulted in creation of the policy forum.
Nari (National Agricultural Research Institute), through its annual Agriculture Innovation Show (AIS), hosted the policy forum providing an avenue to discuss topics of national importance.
Bang said the forum invited stakeholders, researchers and companies in agribusinesses to evaluate, assess and critique the industry.
“Important issues are discussed and key recommendations noted then drafted into policy ensuring it becomes a law to guide agricultural activities in country,” he said.
The 2019 AIS policy forum was themed on building climate resilient agriculture and food systems in PNG.
Bang said agricultural food production and nutrition was under threat from climate change.
Therefore, the 2019 forum was government sector oriented in policy and research to share ideas and experiences into formatting policies.
“Bringing stakeholders to share views, work experiences, papers and information, knowledge and skills helps chart some positive pathways.”
The papers are compiled with recommendations and presented to the Agriculture Department, Nari and relevant government institutions to draft policies for government to endorse.
Bang said different stakeholders, SMEs in agriculture and agribusiness companies like Trukai Industries, Mainland Holdings Ltd face different challenges from climate change determined by their specific agricultural activity.
“We face challenges like inadequate infrastructure, marketing systems, bio-security, irrigation systems but we need to be innovative.”
Bang said the elderly, children and pregnant women were most affected during droughts thus people needed to be taught simple agricultural methods to sustain livelihoods.
“We are facing problems in a drop in food production, poultry and livestock, water issues such as a lack of clean drinking water causing health issues like diarrhoea, dysentery.”