Minister focuses on structure review, improving partnerships

AGRICULTURE Minister John Simon is committed to review the department’s corporate structure to improve outdated mechanisms and encourage public-private partnerships for the rural economy.
Simon said agriculture was the “heartbeat” of the country and was sustainable compared to the extractive industry and therefore the state needed to give fair recognition to agriculture and livestock sector.
He said he would encourage the department’s primary activities.
“To achieve change, we MPs cannot do it alone,” he said.
“It requires the country’s eight million people to work in partnership.
“We need to change in our perspectives, attitudes and behaviours.”
Simon made the remarks when launching of a cassava factory built by SP Brewery at Erap in Wampar, Huon Gulf, Morobe, on Tuesday.
Simon also voiced concern over many paper farmers taking advantage of the outdated corporate structure by walking into the banks with documents and proposals to access agricultural funds while actual farmers in villages were missing out.
“I am determined to see end the practice of being paper farmers,” he said.
“The Agriculture Bank, now the National Development Bank, has also drifted away from its core functions and neglecting farmers.
“I want to see a bank for rural farmers alone.”