Strong agriculture sector good for economy

PRIME Minister James Marape says the Government will focus on growing the rural economy through agriculture.
Strengthening agriculture can produce positive ripple effects in a country’s economy.
Investments in agricultural development can help at reducing poverty.
They say improvements in agriculture have been one of the main factors promoting poverty reduction globally.
“We must explore commercial agriculture,” he said.
“We must open up markets for agriculture products.
“We must sustain the commodity price support and freight subsidy programmes both of which have had enormous impact in growth in the agriculture sector.
“We must build economic infrastructure to unlock the agriculture potential rural areas.
“We must build market systems through digital platforms.”
Agriculture has been at the centre of recent economic progress for many developing nations.
Most governments are taking concrete actions to address the problem and there is a clear recognition of strengthening agriculture and food systems in a manner that brings more affordable, healthier and diverse food options within everyone’s reach.
Revenue from agriculture could cater for the increasing expenditure the Government had to take care of given the increasing population over the years.
For the record, more than 80 per cent of Papua New Guinea’s population live in rural areas and practice subsistence agriculture.
As a result, the majority of people are highly dependent on the country’s forests and rivers for their food security and to meet basic needs.
Garden farms also produce a diversity of other crops including spinach, cauliflower, broccoli, broad beans, cucumbers and sugar cane.
Yam, taro, banana and sweet potato are main staple crops grown.
However, in PNG the biggest challenge is to access these farmers or the growers so value is added to the produce they have.
Only a farmer or grower in the rural areas will testify.
Apart from the funding, all talks of ensuring resurrecting agriculture must turn now to action.
Enough of talking and let’s get down to business.
Whoever will be appointed to head Agriculture and Livestock Ministry must hit the ground running. Papua New Guineans, in rural areas, depend entirely on agriculture and to bail the country out of its financial and social problems, we only need to make real investments in the agriculture sector.
Papua New Guineans have worked the land for their subsistence over thousands of years.
The people who first inhabited the island of New Guinea developed methods to till and irrigate their soil and to live off the bounty while hunting and gathering was still the most common method of surviving for people in other parts of the world.
At independence the country had among its chief exports coffee, copra, cocoa and tea.
These cash crops were one of the first means for the people to make their own revenue and take part in the local economy.
Other agricultural products have since increased their presence and importance.
Sugar and oil palm are now two of the country’s major industries.
Although sugar is produced for domestic sale other industries have shot off the Ramu cane fields.
Small beef industry is up and running with cattle being tended to supply the local market.
And it makes sense that there is potential in this sector.
If we put cocoa, copra and other commodities, we can create a heaven on paradise.
At the same time, government and industry need to conduct more research “to gain a more nuanced understanding of consumer perceptions”.
All this can be achieved if everyone works together as a team.
We must build economic infrastructure to unlock the agriculture potential rural areas.
We must build market systems through digital platforms.
The agriculture sector needs to be consistent and adequate funding so it attracts those who are currently unemployed in cities and towns to return home and work the land.