Will NASP 2019-29 forward PNG’s agriculture sector?
News that matters in Papua New Guinea
PORT MORESBY: Papua New Guinea (PNG) needs to transform its agriculture sector into a more rewarding industry to contribute more significantly to nation-building.
That was what The National reported and that the 10-year National Agriculture Sector Plan (NASP) 2019-2029 draft would be ready soon.
When the plan is implemented and if it succeeds to raise the sector to a higher level of revenue generation and returns for both farmers and the Government, it is hoped to also help ease the socio-economic woes of Papua New Guineans.
PNG Cyber Monitor reproduces below The National reports on the future of PNG’s agriculture sector:
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| Image for illustration only. For image text, go to https://borgenproject.org/sustainable-agriculture-in-papua-new-guinea/ |
Will NASP 2019-29 forward PNG’s agriculture sector?
PORT MORESBY: Papua New Guinea (PNG) needs to transform its agriculture sector into a more rewarding industry to contribute more significantly to nation-building.
That was what The National reported and that the 10-year National Agriculture Sector Plan (NASP) 2019-2029 draft would be ready soon.
When the plan is implemented and if it succeeds to raise the sector to a higher level of revenue generation and returns for both farmers and the Government, it is hoped to also help ease the socio-economic woes of Papua New Guineans.
PNG Cyber Monitor reproduces below The National reports on the future of PNG’s agriculture sector:
10-year agriculture draft plan to be ready this month
Papua New Guinea’s agriculture sector needs to be transformed into a much more rewarding industry for nation-building.
That can only be realised with a radical improvement in the supply and marketing chain. The National’s senior writer
MALUM NALU talks to the people who are driving towards this transformation.
That can only be realised with a radical improvement in the supply and marketing chain. The National’s senior writer
MALUM NALU talks to the people who are driving towards this transformation.
Kambori … time to face reality in plans for agriculture sector
VALENTINE Kambori says the agriculture sector has not developed in Papua New Guinea because the country has been “too generic” and lacks focus.
Having served as director-general of National Agriculture Research Institute for six years (1996-2002) and national planning secretary, also for six years (2002-2008), he is now team leader of the experts’ working group putting together the National Agriculture Sector Plan (NASP) 2019-2029.
The group is made up of eminent thinkers and public policy writers in former agriculture and livestock secretary Mathew Kanua, public policy expert Ilivitale Saneto, veterinarian Dr Nime Kapo, agriculture economist Dr Eric Omuru and Kambori.
“We have to consider the reality of issues, constraints and impediments the sector is facing, and the socio-cultural dimensions when making decisions.
“Much have changed over the decades with many systems in derelict. These are systems during the colonial days.
“We have not really taken a stock stake, a real stock take, instead of picking up generic figures from some international reports, some NSO (National Statistical Office) reports, or central bank reports.
“We have been too generalised,” Kambori said.
“We are writing plans and frameworks on a very general modality. This is why this new agriculture sector plan we are working on, for the next 10 years, is more descriptive and prescriptive according to ground reality.
“In other words, we are taking a real reality stocktake.”
Kambori said from his experience in policy development planning, national strategic thinking and defining the future, “we have come a long way in terms of present realities”.
“My reflection is that having learnt so much from the hard knocks, most of our thinking and planning now should not be just academic exercises. We have a national culture of failing to collate data and information so that we are always up to date. All the systems and structures are now in place for us to do that. We are a country of creating so many legislations and writing policies, but somehow we don’t get into the implementation drive, passion and ambition,” he added.
Kambori said the NASP 2019-2029 would be completed by the end of this month.
The experts’ working group group held workshops in Madang (Momase), Mt Hagen (Highlands) and Kokopo (Islands) before the final one at 17-Mile in Central (Southern) last month.
“We want to have a draft ready by end of May. We have yet to conduct institutional consultations, donor consultations and peer review, before going to the government for approval,” he said, adding that the draft is expected to be presented at the National Agriculture Summit in Lae next month.
Omuru … 10 commodity boards underperforming
Agriculture economist Dr Eric Omuru says agriculture in the country has “regressed” with the 10 commodity boards not performing effectively. However, Omoru said he was optimistic of a better future for agriculture despite all the knocks from critics.
The boards are:
VALENTINE Kambori says the agriculture sector has not developed in Papua New Guinea because the country has been “too generic” and lacks focus.
Having served as director-general of National Agriculture Research Institute for six years (1996-2002) and national planning secretary, also for six years (2002-2008), he is now team leader of the experts’ working group putting together the National Agriculture Sector Plan (NASP) 2019-2029.
The group is made up of eminent thinkers and public policy writers in former agriculture and livestock secretary Mathew Kanua, public policy expert Ilivitale Saneto, veterinarian Dr Nime Kapo, agriculture economist Dr Eric Omuru and Kambori.
“We have to consider the reality of issues, constraints and impediments the sector is facing, and the socio-cultural dimensions when making decisions.
“Much have changed over the decades with many systems in derelict. These are systems during the colonial days.
“We have not really taken a stock stake, a real stock take, instead of picking up generic figures from some international reports, some NSO (National Statistical Office) reports, or central bank reports.
“We have been too generalised,” Kambori said.
“We are writing plans and frameworks on a very general modality. This is why this new agriculture sector plan we are working on, for the next 10 years, is more descriptive and prescriptive according to ground reality.
“In other words, we are taking a real reality stocktake.”
Kambori said from his experience in policy development planning, national strategic thinking and defining the future, “we have come a long way in terms of present realities”.
“My reflection is that having learnt so much from the hard knocks, most of our thinking and planning now should not be just academic exercises. We have a national culture of failing to collate data and information so that we are always up to date. All the systems and structures are now in place for us to do that. We are a country of creating so many legislations and writing policies, but somehow we don’t get into the implementation drive, passion and ambition,” he added.
Kambori said the NASP 2019-2029 would be completed by the end of this month.
The experts’ working group group held workshops in Madang (Momase), Mt Hagen (Highlands) and Kokopo (Islands) before the final one at 17-Mile in Central (Southern) last month.
“We want to have a draft ready by end of May. We have yet to conduct institutional consultations, donor consultations and peer review, before going to the government for approval,” he said, adding that the draft is expected to be presented at the National Agriculture Summit in Lae next month.
Omuru … 10 commodity boards underperforming
Agriculture economist Dr Eric Omuru says agriculture in the country has “regressed” with the 10 commodity boards not performing effectively. However, Omoru said he was optimistic of a better future for agriculture despite all the knocks from critics.
The boards are:
- OIL Palm Industry Corporation;
- COCOA Board of PNG (CBPNG);
- COFFEE Industry Corporation (CIC);
- FRESH Produce Development Agency;
- NATIONAL Agriculture Research Institute;
- NATIONAL Agriculture Quarantine and Inspection Authority;
KOKONAS Indastri Koporesen (KIK); - LIVESTOCK Development Corporation;
- RUBBER Board of PNG; and
- SPICE Board of PNG.
“There hasn’t been any improvement in all of our commodities, except for oil palm and recently the vanilla boom in the East Sepik province and a few other places.
“So really, we have regressed, in terms of agriculture development in the country as far as the commodity boards are concerned. What has really happened?” Omuru asked. I understand the government has been putting money in (to the boards), but when I assess the performance of each of the commodity boards, most of our production figures have actually gone backwards from the baseline from where they used to be.”
Omuru, a member of the experts’ working group putting together the NASP, said the plan was drawing on a wider sector.
“The expressions of our people, things that they have shared with us from the provinces, have been very informative. The collective wisdom in each of these consultations has been immense.
“What we are doing now is a diagnostics of the sector. Where we have been, where we have come and identifying the constraints that are affecting the sector.
“I hope that through this process, we will be able to deliver to Papua New Guinea something that is different. It’s not ‘business as usual’, unlike the past when we depended on commodity boards to draft the way forward,” he added.
Omoru said his recent work with the CIC, CBPNG and KIK aligned them with the government’s Medium Term Development Plan III (MTDP III) 2018-2022.
“MTDP II provides the National Government’s line of thinking. As commodity boards and sector agencies align to that, it adds a lot to what the government wants in the provinces. Bringing the commodity boards to work with the provinces, in achieving what we want in agriculture, would be crucial.
In the past, working together has been quite challenging,” he said. This makes Omuru, a former chief executive officer of the former Cocoa and Coconut Research Institute, confident of a brighter future for agriculture in the country.
“Sometimes I think the criticisms are acceptable, but others are not fair to the sector,” he said.
“I still maintain that some of the most hardworking people in the country are the didimans (male agriculture officers) and didimeris (female agriculture officers) out there in the sector.
“They work tough under very minimal funding. For me, the days when we achieved independence were different, as we were emerging from colonial rule and facilities and other matters were quite new.
“Along the way, our priorities shifted, and then came the mineral boom in our country. Our facilities have deteriorated in many places.
“Our commodity boards have undergone tough and trying times. Look at the CIC that I visited a couple of weeks ago. It was sad to walk into the CIC Building.
“In the 90s, I went there for the first time and going back in 2019, it saddens me to see the rundown state of the facilities. You go to other commodity boards, it is the same story,” he added.
Omuru is confident that with a change in leadership within the sector, and NASP, “the sky is the limit for the agriculture sector in this country”.
“I am very optimistic despite all the negativity that people have thrown at us,” he added.
“So really, we have regressed, in terms of agriculture development in the country as far as the commodity boards are concerned. What has really happened?” Omuru asked. I understand the government has been putting money in (to the boards), but when I assess the performance of each of the commodity boards, most of our production figures have actually gone backwards from the baseline from where they used to be.”
Omuru, a member of the experts’ working group putting together the NASP, said the plan was drawing on a wider sector.
“The expressions of our people, things that they have shared with us from the provinces, have been very informative. The collective wisdom in each of these consultations has been immense.
“What we are doing now is a diagnostics of the sector. Where we have been, where we have come and identifying the constraints that are affecting the sector.
“I hope that through this process, we will be able to deliver to Papua New Guinea something that is different. It’s not ‘business as usual’, unlike the past when we depended on commodity boards to draft the way forward,” he added.
Omoru said his recent work with the CIC, CBPNG and KIK aligned them with the government’s Medium Term Development Plan III (MTDP III) 2018-2022.
“MTDP II provides the National Government’s line of thinking. As commodity boards and sector agencies align to that, it adds a lot to what the government wants in the provinces. Bringing the commodity boards to work with the provinces, in achieving what we want in agriculture, would be crucial.
In the past, working together has been quite challenging,” he said. This makes Omuru, a former chief executive officer of the former Cocoa and Coconut Research Institute, confident of a brighter future for agriculture in the country.
“Sometimes I think the criticisms are acceptable, but others are not fair to the sector,” he said.
“I still maintain that some of the most hardworking people in the country are the didimans (male agriculture officers) and didimeris (female agriculture officers) out there in the sector.
“They work tough under very minimal funding. For me, the days when we achieved independence were different, as we were emerging from colonial rule and facilities and other matters were quite new.
“Along the way, our priorities shifted, and then came the mineral boom in our country. Our facilities have deteriorated in many places.
“Our commodity boards have undergone tough and trying times. Look at the CIC that I visited a couple of weeks ago. It was sad to walk into the CIC Building.
“In the 90s, I went there for the first time and going back in 2019, it saddens me to see the rundown state of the facilities. You go to other commodity boards, it is the same story,” he added.
Omuru is confident that with a change in leadership within the sector, and NASP, “the sky is the limit for the agriculture sector in this country”.
“I am very optimistic despite all the negativity that people have thrown at us,” he added.
Nari: Little progress in agriculture since 1975
Bang … need to do much more for agriculture development
NATIONAL Agriculture Research Institute (NARI) director-general Dr Sergie Bang says agriculture had progressed little since independence in 1975.
“Priority must be given to initiatives to propel the growth and development of Papua New Guinea’s agriculture industry which is the livelihood of the majority of the population,” he added.
“It is true that since independence (on Sept 16, 1975), we have not progressed much in agriculture development, both in terms of production and supply chain.
“The right steps have been taken, but we need to do much more now, than in the past. This is not just in production and marketing, but also research,” he said, adding that a good sector plan was urgently needed.
NARI founding director-general Valentine Kambori is leading an experts’ working group putting together the National Agriculture Sector Plan (NASP) 2019-2029.
“We had a National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP) which ended in 2017. A new agriculture strategic plan is being worked out now.
“We also need accountable leadership to implement the plan. A plan is just that if there is no efficient implementation.
“Coming out with a 10-year plan is fine but we also need a five-year or medium-term plan to forward some key national projects such as a national food marketing system.
“We have got to have projects that are delivered towards the government’s Medium Term Development Plan III, such as food security and an increase in income opportunities for our farmers, and also exports for our country.
“We must have a very strong board, from the private sector, from banks and donors, who are going to put money into this plan.
“Once the plan is implemented, it’s no longer only the government that’s going to fund it, but also donors who must have confidence in the plan.
“The board must ensure that the management committee managing the plan is competent and deliver efficiently. There must be financial accountability as well as technical project reports.
“I believe this is a key way forward to ensure results because now we just identify projects and we give out all the money upfront.
“It could be a K3 million project or a K5 million project, but the money is gone, even if the project is not delivered. This has been the problem with the NADP.
“We must not repeat such mistakes. The implementation and administrative weaknesses must be plugged,” he said.
Bang says all countries that have invested money into agriculture research – science, technology and innovation – have prospered.
“They have invested up to 10 per cent of their GDP in research: science, technology and innovation,” he says.
“Research helps to solve production issues, production problems, bring efficiency into production systems.
“Through research, you also come up with new opportunities.
“There are new things that can be brought into production and marketing.”
Bang said: “An example is the research into the galip nut in Papua New Guinea. Galip is an indigenous nut which is now commanding high demand in the world.
“We have demand for galip in Australia and Europe. Right now, our galip is selling at CPL (City Pharmacy Ltd) supermarkets in Port Moresby and Tropicana Supermarket in Kokopo.
“People want more galips. We believe galip will become a very big industry such as cocoa, if not bigger. That’s where we should capitalise on. When there’s an opportunity and potential, cash in on it.
“Our farmers can then capitalise on this crop.
“Now, in our lowlands, between three and four million people are going to benefit from the weekly galip sales.”
He said another example of research and opportunity was the okari nut.
“We can also promote and improve varieties of crops and livestock that are resistant to pests and diseases, and others. We must not lose sight of the funding that research needs.
“We can bring in strategic new products and varieties that may see a 100% to 200% increase in production, such as sweet potato.
“We’ve cultivated sweet potato varieties that are producing double what the original was yielding.
“Through such research you can venture into improving crop varieties and production,” he added.
Bang said NARI’s research today did not just focus on ensuring food security.
“We look for new and emerging market opportunities because marketing is key to alleviating farmers’ earnings. The markets can be expanded in New Zealand and Australia.
“We can sell coffee and cocoa. There are export opportunities to Australia for fresh produce such as kaukau (sweet potato), asparagus and spices.
“The opportunities are there for the agriculture sector. But we will have to innovate and improve our supply chain,” he added.
NATIONAL Agriculture Research Institute (NARI) director-general Dr Sergie Bang says agriculture had progressed little since independence in 1975.
“Priority must be given to initiatives to propel the growth and development of Papua New Guinea’s agriculture industry which is the livelihood of the majority of the population,” he added.
“It is true that since independence (on Sept 16, 1975), we have not progressed much in agriculture development, both in terms of production and supply chain.
“The right steps have been taken, but we need to do much more now, than in the past. This is not just in production and marketing, but also research,” he said, adding that a good sector plan was urgently needed.
NARI founding director-general Valentine Kambori is leading an experts’ working group putting together the National Agriculture Sector Plan (NASP) 2019-2029.
“We had a National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP) which ended in 2017. A new agriculture strategic plan is being worked out now.
“We also need accountable leadership to implement the plan. A plan is just that if there is no efficient implementation.
“Coming out with a 10-year plan is fine but we also need a five-year or medium-term plan to forward some key national projects such as a national food marketing system.
“We have got to have projects that are delivered towards the government’s Medium Term Development Plan III, such as food security and an increase in income opportunities for our farmers, and also exports for our country.
“We must have a very strong board, from the private sector, from banks and donors, who are going to put money into this plan.
“Once the plan is implemented, it’s no longer only the government that’s going to fund it, but also donors who must have confidence in the plan.
“The board must ensure that the management committee managing the plan is competent and deliver efficiently. There must be financial accountability as well as technical project reports.
“I believe this is a key way forward to ensure results because now we just identify projects and we give out all the money upfront.
“It could be a K3 million project or a K5 million project, but the money is gone, even if the project is not delivered. This has been the problem with the NADP.
“We must not repeat such mistakes. The implementation and administrative weaknesses must be plugged,” he said.
Bang says all countries that have invested money into agriculture research – science, technology and innovation – have prospered.
“They have invested up to 10 per cent of their GDP in research: science, technology and innovation,” he says.
“Research helps to solve production issues, production problems, bring efficiency into production systems.
“Through research, you also come up with new opportunities.
“There are new things that can be brought into production and marketing.”
Bang said: “An example is the research into the galip nut in Papua New Guinea. Galip is an indigenous nut which is now commanding high demand in the world.
“We have demand for galip in Australia and Europe. Right now, our galip is selling at CPL (City Pharmacy Ltd) supermarkets in Port Moresby and Tropicana Supermarket in Kokopo.
“People want more galips. We believe galip will become a very big industry such as cocoa, if not bigger. That’s where we should capitalise on. When there’s an opportunity and potential, cash in on it.
“Our farmers can then capitalise on this crop.
“Now, in our lowlands, between three and four million people are going to benefit from the weekly galip sales.”
He said another example of research and opportunity was the okari nut.
“We can also promote and improve varieties of crops and livestock that are resistant to pests and diseases, and others. We must not lose sight of the funding that research needs.
“We can bring in strategic new products and varieties that may see a 100% to 200% increase in production, such as sweet potato.
“We’ve cultivated sweet potato varieties that are producing double what the original was yielding.
“Through such research you can venture into improving crop varieties and production,” he added.
Bang said NARI’s research today did not just focus on ensuring food security.
“We look for new and emerging market opportunities because marketing is key to alleviating farmers’ earnings. The markets can be expanded in New Zealand and Australia.
“We can sell coffee and cocoa. There are export opportunities to Australia for fresh produce such as kaukau (sweet potato), asparagus and spices.
“The opportunities are there for the agriculture sector. But we will have to innovate and improve our supply chain,” he added.
Worinu … agriculture supply chain in dire need of improvement
Fresh Produce Development Agency (FPDA) general-manager Mark Worinu says the horticulture industry has transformed over the last 30 years but the supply and value chain is in dire need of improvement.
“Since independence in 1975 to the 1980s, it (farming) was purely about subsistence. Fruit and vegetable production then was pretty much just a strong domain for subsistence.
“There was little commercial focus. Over the last 30 years (since 1989), as far as the establishment of FPDA is concerned, things have transformed with the introduction of new crops into the industry.
“So much have changed since. People learned how to farm crops such as broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, cabbages, capsicum, and others.
“Before that, it was just traditional and indigenous crops. We still maintain our traditional crops but varieties started to transform production from the 1980s.
“In Mt Hagen in the 1980s, I used to watch my mother sell indigenous greens and vegetables at the market.
“Farmers then started adopting a commercial mind-set, selling new varities of fruits and vegetables. Some of them successfully set up farms as a means to generate income. Many now are keen to go into commercial fruit and vegetable production.
“This is in line with the demands of a growing populace and major development projects,” he added.
Worinu said: “We now have no other choice to forward the agriculture sector and industry. The supply and value chain woes must be fully addressed.
“The supply consistency must be raised for market growth. That’s FPDA’s primary focus today.
“A robust production system has to be established for the farmers to ensure produce is coming out of the farms consistently and regularly. We are also working closely with stakeholders on the issue of transportation to get the produce to the markets efficiently and quickly.
“With government support in funding and implementation of effective growth programmes, there is no reason why we cannot transform our agriculture industry into a more rewarding nation-building sector,” he added.
Fresh Produce Development Agency (FPDA) general-manager Mark Worinu says the horticulture industry has transformed over the last 30 years but the supply and value chain is in dire need of improvement.
“Since independence in 1975 to the 1980s, it (farming) was purely about subsistence. Fruit and vegetable production then was pretty much just a strong domain for subsistence.
“There was little commercial focus. Over the last 30 years (since 1989), as far as the establishment of FPDA is concerned, things have transformed with the introduction of new crops into the industry.
“So much have changed since. People learned how to farm crops such as broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, cabbages, capsicum, and others.
“Before that, it was just traditional and indigenous crops. We still maintain our traditional crops but varieties started to transform production from the 1980s.
“In Mt Hagen in the 1980s, I used to watch my mother sell indigenous greens and vegetables at the market.
“Farmers then started adopting a commercial mind-set, selling new varities of fruits and vegetables. Some of them successfully set up farms as a means to generate income. Many now are keen to go into commercial fruit and vegetable production.
“This is in line with the demands of a growing populace and major development projects,” he added.
Worinu said: “We now have no other choice to forward the agriculture sector and industry. The supply and value chain woes must be fully addressed.
“The supply consistency must be raised for market growth. That’s FPDA’s primary focus today.
“A robust production system has to be established for the farmers to ensure produce is coming out of the farms consistently and regularly. We are also working closely with stakeholders on the issue of transportation to get the produce to the markets efficiently and quickly.
“With government support in funding and implementation of effective growth programmes, there is no reason why we cannot transform our agriculture industry into a more rewarding nation-building sector,” he added.
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