Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Sir PukaTemu
has described the new commercial rice project in Central province as a major
agriculture investment that will boost economic development.
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And he has appealed to the landowners and people of
Kairuku-Hiri district where the project will be located to accept, support and
make it work.
Sir Puka said the multi-billion kina rice project
would be a major impact project for the district, the province and Southern
region as well as the country and this opportunity should not be missed.
He was speaking at a meeting with landowners and the
community at Vanapa on Monday last week. The previous weekend Sir Puka also
paid a visit to the Nara/Gabadi community and delivered a similar message to
the people there.
Sir Puka, accompanied by his departmental head and
members of the rice project team, told the people that disagreements and infighting
amongst the landowners would have a negative effect on their chances of
participating in the project.
He called on the landowners, clan leaders, community
leaders and individuals to solve their differences and work together and
support the government so that the project could commence and everyone could
benefit.
Sir Puka reminded the people that due to landowner
infighting and land disputes in the Rigo district, the sugar project was taken
away and established at Ramu in Morobe province. A similar problem should not
force the government to move the rice project to another province, he said.
The 5-6 billion kina project is a major investment
in rice development and agriculture sector in PNG in which the investor will
develop 100,000 hectares of land for commercial rice leading to increased
benefits to landowners, employment, training, infrastructure and reduce rice
imports.
This is a huge opportunity for PNG to produce rice
on a larger scale and will need all the support from the landowners and
communities within the project areas including provincial and district
administration, ward councillors, village leaders and other stakeholders.
Sir Puka said there would be increased opportunities
for the resource owners to participate in spin off businesses, employment and
training as well as improved infrastructure in roads and social services.
People’s livelihoods will change as they will have access to money and better
services.
Sir Puka assured the people that the O’Neill/Namah
government was committed towards supporting the project because it wants to
boost economic development in the province.
He said there would be many challenges that would
require a lot of understanding and patience and urged all parties to sit
together and discuss the issues.
Sir Puka said he hoped that the deed of agreement
for the project could be signed by the investor and the government this month.
As a fully integrated highly mechanised project
using state-of-the-art technology, the investor’s plans are to develop massive
water irrigation system, dams, road networks, airstrip, harbour, township and
rice milling facilities.
The project once developed should generate
employment opportunities in excess of 5,000 jobs, produce over 3.0 million tons
of rice, save over K500 million in foreign exchange revenues and earn in excess
of K3 billion in foreign exchange earnings per annum. Besides the huge financial
gains to the nation, positive economic impacts to the landowners, local
communities, Central Province, this project will substantially raise the
profile of the agriculture sector to new heights.
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