Plan for food security policy set

THE Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL) at its New Guinea Islands regional office in East New Britain is currently working with the provincial government to develop a food security policy.
DAL’s NGI director Chris Apisai told The National on Tuesday that the ENB food security policy was a significant undertaking to be completed this year however the Coronavirus (Covid-19) and the General Election 2022 had delayed implementation of the project.
He said the policy had been worked on for the last three years and was the result of efforts by the Department of Primary Industries provincial office, National Agriculture Resource Institute, East New Britain Development Corporation and others.
Apisai added that the provincial government had approved almost K900,000 for the project.
He said the provincial government would data collected from all wards in the province on agriculture, livestock, health, education and how much farmers were earning.
Apisai said the information would allow the administration to ensure the policy captured all relevant areas.
He said authorities in East New Britain needed to have policies to address the challenges arising in communities such as law and order, population growth and lack of economic/business opportunities.