Minister worries over decline

 By SAMSON JOHN

DESPITE agriculture being seen as backbone of country it has declined over years, Agriculture Minister Tommy Tomscoll says.

He said this during the two-day 2016 Agriculture Leaders’ Summit yesterday.

He said having a forum was good because it brought stakeholders to meet and discuss issues affecting the sector.

The summit which ends today, was for stakeholders to find solutions and a way forward to grow the sector.

“Interestingly, we all agree the agriculture sector in PNG has been declining,” Tomscoll said.

“What we disagree on is that what actions should the Government take to revitalise this important sector.” 

He said agriculture growth was important because people’s lives depended on it. Not only for consumption but also for creating employment and businesses.

“Our economy depends on it to bring revenue through exporting of cash crop commodities,” Tomscoll said.

“The sector contributes 27 per cent of our country’s gross domestic product (GDP) which is K2.5 billion and this goes towards our annual budget.”

However, he said the level of investment put back into the sector in real terms is less than K150 million annually.

“If this has been our approach, then, we have been slaughtering the sector. Instead we are clogging the economy, cutting the lifeline of our people, denying their prosperity and economic advancement,” he said.