Photo credit: Australia Papua New Guinea Business Council
An official claims that it's important to gauge how much agriculture contributes to the country's economic development, particularly its Gross Domestic Product.
The Department of Agriculture and Livestock's acting secretary, Dr. Nelson Simbiken, said: “We want to see in a coordinated manner capital investment programmes that have been invested in the agriculture sector.
“And we want to see government expenditure (in the) agriculture sector being delivered on government policies.”
At a meeting of the department audit committee in Port Moresby, he stated that the medium-term development strategy required agriculture to perform.
He claimed that the government invested money in the department and desired to see a profit.
Therefore, the audit committee should guarantee openness in the use of public monies.
The Department of Finance organized the conference to discuss measures to strengthen and enhance systems and procedures.
Simbiken advised conducting an audit of the department to make sure funds allotted for labor programs were properly used.
The meeting, which was presided over by Sam Penias, deputy secretary of the Department of Finance, was held to make sure funds were used properly and in accordance with procedures.
Earlier, Simbiken urged commodities boards to spend cash to support government programs in their initiatives.
Simbiken said that the audit meeting was held by the Department of Finance to assist them.
He claimed that the agency, which had budget codes, oversaw a number of boards.
Reference: The National (18 August 2022). “Govt needs to see agriculture’s contribution to GDP: Official”.
