PNG must develop beef industry

THE head of a State-owned entity tasked with developing the livestock industry says Papua New Guinea must look to develop its own beef industry to lessen its reliance on imports.
Livestock Development Corporation Ltd (LDCL) managing director Terry Koim said the country spent K450 million annually to import meat because its own domestic production could not supply that demand.
Koim said LDCL aimed to expand and improve cattle farming by rehabilitating the existing six abattoirs nationwide.
These abattoirs are Wariman (East Sepik), Sagalau (Madang), Bihute (Eastern Highlands), Korn Farm (Jiwaka), Tiaba (Port Moresby) and Kurakakaul (East New Britain).
Koim added that work had been done on distribution centres for cattle.
He noted funding constraints as a challenge in achieving national government’s aim in downstream processing.
In 2020, the Government appropriated K5 million to LDCL.
Koim said LDCL had achieved some good results with the funding.
He said they had reclaimed state land, re-opened cattle ranches and revived rundown abattoirs, among others.
Koim said he had set targets for 2025 and these were import replacement, food security and job creation.
He said he would need about K50 million annually to ensure LDCL met the targets.
Koim added that one long-term goal was to eventually become the country’s regulator of the livestock industry.