Landowners
in the Sandaun province have called on the government to conduct regular
monitoring of major agro-forestry projects.
They
say that relevant government agencies including Department of Agriculture and
Livestock, PNG Forest Authority and the respective provincial administration
should take the lead in the monitoring programme.
The
issue was raised recently during a review meeting of the agro-forestry oil palm
project in the Pai resource area in Aitape district.
The
meeting was attended by landowner representatives, DAL, PNGFA, developer and
the district administration.
Landowners give their views during the review meeting in Aitape town |
Aitape-Lumi
district administrator Timothy Teklan chaired the meeting.
The
meeting at Aitape concluded with a recommendation for the oil palm project to
be scrapped in favour of cocoa and other potential crops including rubber.
The
meeting also agreed to set up a review and monitoring committee comprising of
various government agencies in Sandaun and Aitape district administration to
coordinate the monitoring exercise.
The meeting recommended that the developer
produce and submit a land use development plan for integrated agriculture
development project which would encompass cocoa, rubber and other suitable
crops.
The review meeting had
been organised to discuss the past activities of the agro-forestry project
focusing on oil palm development and to discuss the way forward.
There is a need to
assess if the cocoa or oil palm is economical and financially viable, and has
high/low environmental implications.
Most people were
familiar with cocoa and know that capital input was much less than oil palm.
The review was also to
assess the commitment and capacity of the developer on the changes of land use.
DAL deputy secretary for
technical services Francis Daink attended the meeting and took note of the
concerns raised by the landowners and the recommendations made.
Daink emphasised the
need for establishment of the monitoring committee to be coordinated and
chaired by the district administration.
Daink stressed that in
such projects the district administration, especially the programme manager, played
an important role in monitoring and reporting.
National DAL will rely
on district programme managers to provide reports as and when required.
He said the government
had scarce resources to provide services and needs to bring in investors from
abroad that have technical skills and capital to partner with and assist the
government to bring development.
Chairman of landowner
company Mete Holdings Ltd, Samson Kupu said the other factor that would really
affect oil palm development was the location of the project area - situated in
the head waters - which would definitely pollute all the big and small rivers
where most people had accessibility for their daily needs.
He said that after his
visit to NBPOL oil palm operations in West New Britain
province and discussions with PNG Oil Palm Research Association, he had found
out that there were some serious issues which would really affect the development
of oil palm in Aitape.
These issues included
lack of adequate technical expertise; most skilled personnel may be joining the
PNG LNG project which offers attractive pay and conditions; availability of
state land for development; suitable port facilities and market availability.
Aitape Oil Palm Ltd
project consultant, Dr Felix Moh, said the developer company needed the support
of all stakeholders including government, landowners and the general public to
conduct its operations in the agro-forestry development.
The developer supported
the desires of the government and the landowners to benefit from any
agro-forestry project.
He said the developer
would consider any outcomes from the meeting before making a final decision.
Many
speakers at the meeting said they were now unsure of the oil palm project and
would be willing to switch to cocoa and rubber.
Some
said their land was unsuitable for oil palm but good for cocoa and other crops.
Others
said cocoa had been grown for many years in Aitape and the people did not need
further training.
In
addition, cocoa prices were more attractive and most farmers were now venturing
into cocoa production.
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