PNG Rubber board swears in members

THE PNG Rubber board is now active and will soon be making policies and decisions to revive the rubber industry.
Board members sworn in yesterday included Josephine Keni as chairperson and SME and exporter entrepreneur’s representative, Kone Burana as smallholder and public sector representative, Lawrence Miai as the Rubber Association representative, Lee Wari as coordinator for the Department of Agriculture and Livestock and Stephen Mombi as deputy secretary and ex officio member.
Department secretary Daniel Komboi said this would ensure progress of the industry.
He said he was aware of the benefits of rubber and the commodity should be revived again.
Deputy secretary Stephen Mombi said: “From 2009 to 2018, the agriculture sector contributed K20 billion to the economy.
However, only K1.147 billion was given back to the sector, which is less than 1 per cent.
“And in real kina terms, this is about K95 million which, when divided by the 10 commodity boards in the agriculture sector, that’s about K9.5 million every year.”
Mombi said a holistic approach should be taken to boost the sector.
“Each sector including rubber needs to come up with appropriate strategies to move their respective sectors forward,” he said.
“Identify avenues which will and can continue to contribute to moving the sector forward.”