Registered cooperatives praised for potential to boost government revenue

THE 7000 registered agriculture-fishery-related cooperatives are huge potential revenue earners that can help Papua New Guinea’s economic recovery.
Registrar of Cooperative Societies of PNG Stephen Sallun said they would boost the national government’s coffers in tax contribution with their cash crop and fresh food production.
“This is possible if and when the technical and funding capacity needs of the 7,000 cooperatives are identified and given support.
“The cooperative members own the land that they cultivate while the fishermen harvest the sea for cash,” he added.
Sallun spoke at the Certificate of Incorporation to executives of Morobe Primary Producer’s Cooperative Association (MPPCA) Ltd on Friday.
He said MPPCA was certified under the Cooperative Societies (Amended) Act 1985, registered on March 12, 2019 as a recognised entity to execute their objectives.
“To balance the equation of business activities and ownerships in the country, considering the huge foreign investors, it is crucial to empower cooperatives to ensure the sustainability and growth of local small-medium-scale entreprenuers (SMEs).
“Cooperatives are the way forward as it involves families, clans and communities that contribute land, monies and manpower,” he said, urging cooperatives to not fight among themselves, as in the case of Hamamas rice producers in Chingwam, Ragiampum, Markham.
He said only cooperative members had the right to speak up and make decisions, “not the chairman alone.” He said the government’s focus was to reach cooperative members “who are considered the foundation of SMEs.
The 115,000-member-strong MPPCA was established as a viable economic development vehicle linking 509 cooperatives in nine districts. MPPCA chairman Reuben Yapi said: “We are determined to achieve Governor Ginson Saonu’s Kundu Vision motto Kisim Bek Morobe but we have yet to receive from Saonu and the office of provincial economic sector under deputy administrator Masayang Moat.
“We cater to a total of 694,000 men, women and youths in agriculture and fishery activities. This recognition and certificate to operate as a business entity, gives us the onus to mobilise and enhance technical capabilities and capacities of cooperatives.”
Sallun presented the certificate to Yapi and Provincial Division of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL) programme adviser Ken Elonaga.
Elonaga said the (national) government had some of the best agricultural policies, programmes and projects but “support and funding are lacking”. “MPPCA can now provide the path to link government and people in agriculture, livestock and fishery. We aim to mobilise cooperatives and provide technical assistance because DAL extension activities will also be our responsibility.”
The inception of MPPCA was the result of a DAL planning workshop involving all the heads of cooperatives in nine districts.
Yapi said the registration of MPPCA on March 12 opens the pathway for the cooperative groups to invest their K1,000 registration fee during first annual general meeting on April 4 at PNG Forest Research Institute. The PNG cooperatives summit is on April 9 to 12 in Lae.