PNG can increase beef

 Papua New Guinea can raise its game in terms of beef production, New Britain Palm Oil chief executive officer Nick Thompson said.

Thompson said with the right investment climate, PNG could be self-sufficient in production of beef. 

He said NBPOL beef herds at Ramu in Madang, and Numundo in West New Britain had increased over recent years.

“We intend to continue to build our herd in the Ramu valley.”

Thompson said some smaller beef producers were closed due to the lack of good investment climate.

“Unfortunately, many smaller beef herds have been disbanded such as the one at Markham Farms.

“The government, over many years, has had an ineffective strategy to encourage domestic beef production. 

“The recent move by the Bank of PNG to put kina exchange rates up to 41 US cents have again signalled a complete disconnect between the government’s actions and it’s stated intent to back agriculture and domestic food production.”

“Making imports cheaper and allowing dumping of often poor quality meat products into the PNG market does nothing to encourage beef producers in PNG. 

“With the right investment climate, PNG could be self-sufficient in meat over a 10-15 year programme.”

Thompson added: “This requires consistency of policy and commitment. 

“PNG agriculture cannot afford an artificially high exchange rate that allows the likes of Australia and New Zealand unfettered access to the long term detriment to our own farmers.