Oil palm policy will allow growth in industry: Minister

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OIL Palm Minister Francis Maneke says the new national oil palm policy will allow change and growth plus the review of the Oil Palm Industry Corporation Act 1992.
Nakanai MP Maneke said during the regional consultation programme of the national oil palm policy in Port Moresby yesterday that the new legislation would provide the regulatory framework for the industry to expand.
“The National Oil Palm Policy is needed to enforce the new legislations, therefore it is very important for all stakeholders to contribute to the discussions during the policy consultations,” Maneke said.
The regional consultation programmes were conducted in West New Britain and Morobe last month.
It continues in Port Moresby for the third consultation with stakeholders and representatives of oil palm growers.
Maneke said the new oil palm ministry was still in its preparation stage.
The priority is to:

  • ESTABLISH the National Oil Palm Policy;
  • SET up the oil palm ministry office and secretariat; and,
  • ESTABLISH the oil palm industry development authority; and,
  • FORMULATE a long-term strategic plan for the oil palm ministry. “Through the long-term strategic plan we will increase land mobilisation, introduce management practices of climate-smart agriculture, establish oil palm mills, promote downstream processing and conduct more research and development projects for sustainable oil palm growth,” Maneke said.