Return home, till your land: Marape

PRIME Minister James Marape has reiterated his plea to people “doing nothing” in urban centres to return to their land and get involved in agriculture, forestry and fisheries.
“All of us have land back where we come from,” he said.
“If you are an educated Papua New Guinean, mobilise your family, clan and tribe (to) work (on) coffee, cocoa, coconut or vanilla. This is the easiest place to engage the mass of people who are doing nothing.”
To support them, Marape said the Government would provide “price support so our growers (can) get good prices”.
“We will still continue subsidising the freight so the cost of transportation from rural areas to markets is easier,” he said.
Marape promised that roads would be provided under the Connect PNG programme “to where the agriculture, forestry and fisheries resources are”.
“(We are also) continuing to invest in ports in major centers (and) jetties to (ensure) the free-flow of cargo in and out of rural areas,” he said. “We (want) to unbundle the rural economy so that your coffee, fish, and your timber start making money for you.”
Marape urged those who have left Grade 10 and 12 but are unable to find jobs in the formal sector to venture into business in agriculture, forestry and fisheries.
He said the Government was willing to help people venture into small-medium enterprises.
“Fixing (these) issues will not take overnight. It will take some time,” he said.
“And the Government is showing the way. We now ask our people to respond.
“The money is there and the Government is establishing the markets. We ask the people to work your land.”
He also said the law and justice sector was one of the key areas targeted in the 2023 National Budget.
Marape is in Bangkok, Thailand, attending the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Meeting.