New life eyed for dying plantations

By ZACHERY PER
The newly established Kumul Agriculture Ltd (KAL) will target the rehabilitation of rundown plantations around the country, says chairman Leslie Hoffman.
He said this at the launch of the Okiyufa Community Development Authority in Goroka on Tuesday.
KAL managing director Arthur Jones said they had already established regional offices around the country.
“As chairman of KAL board, I am determined to work with the management to revive all the coffee, cocoa, copra, rubber and oil palm plantations around PNG,” Hoffman said.
He said agriculture was the backbone of the country and would always remain so as 85 per cent of the country depended on it.
Hoffman said the Government, under Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, prioritised agriculture in its Alotau Accord Two as an important sector to develop for revenue generation.
He said the development of KAL, and its aims and goals, were in line with the accord.
Hoffman committed himself and the KAL management to drive the new entity to develop agriculture. “In PNG, we have vast land masses that can be converted into farms where many crops can be grown,” he said.
“We have the potential to supply food crops to the rest of the world.
“That can sustain PNG without input of mineral and petroleum resources.”
Hoffman said KAL would work with partners to revive agriculture commodities that once contributed towards development.
“The agro-industry, if managed, can earn huge revenue for PNG,” Hoffman said.
Vice-Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Henry Ame said KAL would develop agriculture in the country.
“It will revive rundown plantations and move into other sectors of agriculture including livestock production,” he said.