Call for export markets for agricultural produce

By SENIORL ANZU

 

Bulolo MP Sam Basil called on all stakeholders in agriculture to take research and development to the next level by exploring overseas market opportunities.

Speaking at the 2009 Agricultural Innovations Show at Bubia near Lae on Tuesday, Mr Basil said Papua New Guinea needed a proper strategy to capture markets for local crops that had potential commercial value.

 He added that besides being rich in natural resources, PNG was also strategically positioned to capitalise on market opportunities available in Australia, New Zealand, and Asia which would benefit PNG farmers.

“Papua New Guinea must develop a strategy to capture a share in these markets for some of our potential commercial fresh fruit and vegetable crops like taro, yams, mango, aibika, krusako, kalapoa, cabbages, carrots, lettuce, peanuts, galip nuts and many more”, Mr Basil said.

“If given the support and backing by the government, I am confident our small farmers can grow produce that are competitive on the internal markets.”

 He therefore indicated his willingness to lobby key players.

“I will lobby NARI and other institutions like the National Agricultural Quarantine Inspection Authority, Department of Agriculture and Livestock, Department of Trade and Industry, and the Department of Foreign Affairs to establish a joint task force to formulate a strategy so that the Government can explore opportunities for our farmers to sell their produce to markets in Australia, New Zealand and Asia,” Mr Basil said.

 He stated that PNG was not even exporting to Australia, a country which had long ties with PNG for many years.

He cited an example during his recent travel to Canberra in which, during a visit to a grocery store, he found the shelves occupied with taro from Fiji, krusako from Vietnam, kalapoa from Samoa, and kulau from Thailand.

He said these were crops PNG could produce in volumes for their markets.

“It is shameful that small countries like Fiji can export taro to Australia, New Zealand and the UN, even under a military regime, and Papua New has yet to find a niche in these markets,” Mr Basil said.

Meanwhile, Mr Basil presented K298, 580 to Vice-Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Jim Simitab for a livestock development project in the Bulolo district.

The money was for purchase of cattle, buffalos, goats, ducks and fish from the Erap Food Security Research and Development Centre.

Another payment of K7, 162 was made to the Morobe Fisheries Authority for aquaculture development in the electorate.