PM aims to boost agro

The National Main Stories

THE allocation of four ministries to the agriculture sector is a paradigm shift to get agriculture moving again, Prime Minister James Marape says.
“We want to see import replacements and more exports (from) agriculture,” Marape said.
The four portfolios are:

  • GOROKA MP Aiye Tambua is Agriculture Minister responsible for the department’s administration, plus tree crops and horticulture (fresh produce);
  • NAKANAI MP Francis Maneke is Minister for Oil Palm (new ministry);
  • SOUTH Fly MP Seki Agisa is Minister for Livestock;
  • ANGLIMP-South Wahgi MP Joe Kuli is Minister for Coffee (new ministry).

Marape said it was no secret that the agriculture sector had lost its momentum in development since Independence in 1975.
The allocation of the four ministries will hopefully “rekindle the sector”, and become a major income-generator.
Marape said the oil palm industry laws and regulations were outdated and needed to be changed.
“Oil palm is the largest agriculture commodity in PNG, contributing about 40 per cent – K1.2 billion annually – of PNG’s export revenue in agriculture,” he said.
Marape said the livestock industry needed revival to be an exporter.
Marape said coffee also needed an overhaul to generate in more export revenue.
“We are targeting specific commodities through establishment of the four agriculture ministries,” he said.
“Over the next two weeks, we will give specific production targets for coffee, oil palm and our major agriculture commodities.”