Papua New Guinea has vast resources and potential for agriculture

By SOLDIER BURUKA of DAL

 Papua New Guinea has many natural resources including arable land for agriculture development and can provide a wide range of opportunities for investors.

At the same time PNG needs to be committed and positive in its efforts to promote agriculture investment.

Head of a visiting Chinese delegation, Lin Rentong, made these remarks during a briefing with officers from the Department of Agriculture and Livestock and other agricultural agencies early this week.

 Rentong and his team members admire fresh vegetables on sale at a roadside market at Brown River along the Hiritano Highway

Rentong said he was impressed with the potential for major agriculture projects and believed that PNG would one day become a developed country like China.

He said PNG needed to utilise its resources through new technology and with assistance from genuine investors who could move the country forward.

This country has resources supported by suitable climate and soil conditions which make it possible for large scale or commercial development especially in rice and grain.

He stressed that PNG needed to put in place key infrastructure such as transportation, roads, marketing facilities, access to water facilities and others which form part of the development process.

 Rentong, deputy director-general of Liaoning provincial farming and land reclamation bureau, led a team of seven government and technical officials to seek potential investment opportunities.

During its three-day visit the team travelled to Vanapa outside Port Moresby to inspect potential rice and grain sites and held discussions with government officials and PNG-based companies.

The Chinese officials inspecting corn at Doa along the Hiritano Highway

  

During the meeting with DAL and agricultural sectoral agencies, Rentong said the Chinese were prepared to assist in introducing new farming technology, conduct farmer training and establish seed multiplication farms as well as other activities including farm machinery.

All they required was land to be made available and conducive environment for investment.

DAL secretary Anton Benjamin said PNG was looking at opportunities to develop and boost its agriculture potential and welcomed the visit by Rentong’s team.

He said PNG had opportunities in grain production, livestock as well as the tree crops including coffee and coconut industries, which could be further expanded in suitable locations with assistance from overseas investors.

Chinese officials check out a lake near Kerea village in the Vanapa area outside Port Moresby