Prime Minister Hon James Marape has urged the nation to venture into the small- agricultural business.
“We will partner districts and provinces who want to help the National Government empower our people with increased revenue from their investments in agriculture,” he said. “There is a global demand for coffee, vanilla, cocoa, copra, oil palm, rubber, etc. The Government’s investment to give good prices to the growers will mean increased production and increased export, which is beneficial to the country and our people. Every citizen of our country has land, which can produce one or two cash crops, for which our citizens can get good prices for their produce. The Government, through each district and province, will buy at points where growers are. This will cut away middlemen and it will be a win-win for everyone.”
He added, “My Government is focused on empowering the majority 80 per cent of our people who are presently living a subsistence life. This is a deliberate policy to bring this majority of Papua New Guineans into the cash economy. We are not just talking but implementing our policies like agriculture price support, and SME loan scheme, with Budget support. I encourage Papua New Guineans not to laze around but pick up an agriculture SME – which is now profitable with better prices through the Government’s price support policy.”
He made the call at East Sepik in front of cocoa and vanilla growers. Also in attendance were East Sepik Governor Hon. Allan Bird, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Hon. John Simon, State Enterprises Minister Hon. William Duma, Education Minister Hon. Jimmy Uguro and Defence Minister Hon. Solan Mirism.
