Taiwanese company and NARI to develop jatropha in Papua New Guinea

NARI council chairman Dr John Kola (left) and general manager of ShineSun PNG Ltd Ken Cheng after signing the agreement on jatropha development in PNG. Looking on are representatives of NARI, Sunshine PNG and DAL

By UDAI PAL of NARI

National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) has entered into an agreement with Taiwanese investor ShineSun (PNG) Ltd for research and training on jatropha.

The key to the future of bio-fuel is finding inexpensive feed stocks that can be grown by farmers on marginal agricultural land and jatropha is one of many plants that hold a great deal of promise.

Jatropha proves to be a promising bio-fuel plantation and could emerge as a major alternative to diesel.

A memorandum of agreement was signed recently in Port Moresby by Dr John Kola, council chairman of NARI and Ken Yuan Chieu Cheng, general manager of ShineSun.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by NARI director general Dr Raghunath Ghodake, a representative of the Taiwanese ambassador, staff members of ShineSun, Department of Agriculture and Livestock and NARI’s southern regional centre based at Laloki outside Port Moresby.

The purposes of the agreement are to:

· Conduct and promote research on jatropha (Jatropha curcas) and provide training and planting materials to farmers who will become outgrowers of Jatropha in PNG;

· Share land and facilities at NARI Laloki for conducting research and promoting development of jatropa farming;

· Share knowledge and expertise of NARI and ShineSun on jathropa research and development;

· Implement the above basic objectives so as to help develop jatropha as an alternative cash crop for both smallholders and commercial plantations in Papua New Guinea and to help integrate jatropa cultivation in farming systems for sustainability; and

· Effectively pursue jatropha research and training to facilitate national jatropha technical steering committee for the development of jatropha biofuel project in PNG.

Jatropha oil displacing conventional fossil fuel makes the project fully eligible as recipient of carbon credits.
Jatropha qualifies to be a better alternative for bio-fuel than other food/oil crops such as corn, sorghum, cassava, soybeans or rapeseed as the use of these may lead to risk of global food scarcity and price rise.

Jatropha is an underutilised, oil-bearing crop.

It produces a seed that can be processed into non-polluting bio-diesel that, if well exploited, can provide opportunities for good returns and rural development.

Jatropha can also be used as a living fence to keep out livestock, control soil erosion and improve water infiltration.

The waste products from jatropha bio-diesel production can be used as a fertiliser for producing bio-gas, and the jatropha seedcake can potentially be used as livestock feed.

In addition to growing on degraded and marginal lands, this crop has special appeal, in that it grows under drought conditions and animals do not graze on it.

Businesses have 5 recommendations for APEC Trade Ministers

Issued by the APEC Secretariat

Sapporo, Japan, 1 June 2010 – As Trade Ministers from across APEC prepare for their annual meeting later this week, the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) has delivered a set of five recommendations, with the intent that they be taken to APEC Leaders.  These are:

Recommendation 1: ABAC recommends that Leaders should re-commit to achieving free and open trade within the APEC region.  Taking account of the fundamental changes in APEC’s economic and social structures over the last sixteen years, and the fact that we are now in the era of the post-industrialized knowledge-based economy, ABAC recommends that a new vision is needed, building on the Bogor Goals to reflect the changing nature of modern Asia Pacific regional supply chains and value chains.  This vision should seek to liberalize flows of goods, services, investment, technology, e-commerce and people; and have a strong emphasis on balanced and inclusive growth and sustainable development.

Recommendation 2: ABAC recommends that Leaders agree that a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) is an aspirational but achievable vehicle for delivering free and open trade and investment within the region. ABAC is seeking from Ministers greater detail on the modalities and processes towards an FTAAP to enable active involvement by the business community.

Recommendation 3: ABAC recommends that Leaders recognize the importance of existing and progressing regional trade arrangements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, ASEAN+1, ASEAN+3, ASEAN+6 and CEPEA as potential pathways to delivering an FTAAP.  As these existing arrangements evolve, they should draw on previously developed APEC model FTA chapters covering goods, services and investment and other new business requirements to guide their progress.  ABAC further requests that Leaders of economies engaged in evolving regional arrangements direct their officials to share knowledge and substance about their respective negotiations in a timely and transparent fashion, while respecting the negotiating sensitivity of some issues.

Recommendation 4: ABAC recommends that as a new vision for APEC is developed, the business community is closely engaged so that policy makers draw on business leaders’ expertise in identifying practical initiatives and proposing workable solutions.  ABAC recommends that the links between the APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting and ABAC processes be better defined and integrated.

Recommendation 5: ABAC recommends that as part of achieving the Bogor Goals or a new vision, Leaders direct the APEC Secretariat to develop an annual set of ‘Regional Integration Metrics’ to monitor each economy’s progress towards greater regional economic integration and inclusive growth.  Such indicators are essential for benchmarking performance and creating accountability from Leaders.  ABAC recommends the creation of a one page “Regional Integration Dashboard” for each economy showing the level and change in various indicators of liberalization, including but not limited to, the flows of goods, services, investment, technology and people.

In fact, a key component of ABAC’s 2010 agenda is an assessment of APEC members’ achievement of the Bogor Goals* from the business perspective.  Last week, in a letter to Trade Ministers, ABAC members explained that:

“ABAC’s own review clearly identifies that many member economies have become considerably more open since 1994. Industrialized economies have made significant steps towards becoming more free and open, a trend apparent among developing economies as well.”

While the global economy has evolved considerably since 1994, ABAC cites a need to increase efforts toward deeper regional economic integration…

“More needs to be done to achieve the goal of free and open trade and investment in the APEC region.  This needs to encompass trade in goods, services, investment, ideas and the movement of people…. Trade and investment facilitation are also essential tools to enhance economic growth.”  

ABAC includes representatives from the business communities in each of APEC’s 21 member economies.  These representatives are appointed by APEC Leaders as a source of insight to the priorities and concerns of the business sector.

APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) are to meet in Sapporo, Japan, 5 – 6 June.

*In 1994 in Bogor, Indonesia, APEC Leaders committed to the goals of free and open trade and investment in the region by 2010 for industrialized members and by 2020 for developing members.

For more information, contact: media@apec.org

 

 

 

'Bill will strip rights to land'

SCIENTISTS and lawyers say that the amendment passed last Friday in Parliament will strip Papua New Guineans of their right to their land, The National reports.

It would also leave the companies or developers immune to law suits for compensation, “even if they were negligent or at fault”.

The landowners, particularly of the Rai Coast district in Madang, are claiming they had been hard done by the government.

“This is the worst piece of legislation on human rights that I have ever seen,” PNG Institute of Biological Research scientist Banak Gamui said.

“They have stripped the landowners of common law and customary law rights that they have had for over 10,000 years.”

He said developers could not be sued for compensation.

“The action for negligence is gone.

“Reason? The developer was just doing what it had planned to do but a blow out happened. 

“It does not matter if it’s its fault ... so long as the company was carrying out the activity it was authorised under the permit to do – it escapes all liability for environmental damage.”

Even when there are provisions for compensation provisions, he said: “Any compensation would be signed up and paid before the mining, gas, oil operation starts, provided the company predicts there will be any damage. 

“If the company predicts none, not only will it pay no compensation at the beginning under a compensation agreement – but if damage occurs – negligently, intentionally or unintentionally – the company will not have to pay a toea.

“If it creates more damage than predicted at the beginning, there is no recourse.”

Lawyers said if the bill was not certified, it could go back to Parliament and be changed under section 113 of the Constitution.

The landowners of the Rai Coast are the first to feel the impact of the law.

They will not be able to sue the developer CMCC of Ramu Nico over the dumping of waste into their sea.

They said the government made changes to sections of the Environment Act 2000 “to prevent landowners and concerned Papua New Guineans from “interfering’ with developing project like the Ramu nickel mine and LNG in the Southern Highlands”.

The landowners had petitioned the Deputy Prime Minister Sir Puka Temu and Environment Minister Benny Allan in Bongu village on April 10.

The petition deadline was yesterday.

“But the government has seen fit to insult landowners by changing the law!” landowner George Ireng said.

“This is an insult to the people of Rai Coast and all Papua New Guineans who are landowners,” he said.

“Personally, I am angered by the government’s actions.

“The change is a serious attack on our ability as landowners and Papua New Guineans to speak out against problems created by the actions of government and developers.”

Papua New Guinea treasurer suspended

THE Supreme Court has ordered the suspension of Finance and Treasury Minister Patrick Pruaitch from office, The National reports.

The high court made the decision yesterday, saying Pruaitch is suspended on full pay pending his substantive appeal against his referral by the Ombudsman Commission to the leadership tribunal.

The three-judge bench of the Supreme Court consisted of justices Nicholas Kirriwom, Les Gavera-Nanu and Catherine Davani.

They ruled that with Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia’s convening of the tribunal on Feb 3, this had immediately effected section 28 of the Organic Law on the duties and responsibilities of leadership (OLDLR).

Section 28 gives effect to the suspension of a leader who has been referred for prosecution before a leadership tribunal over allegations of misconduct in office.

The tribunal sat in February but did not commence hearing because of the restraining order obtained by Pruaitch. The tribunal comprises Deputy Chief Justice Gibbs Salika, principal magistrate Peter Toliken and senior magistrate Nerrie Eliakim.

Yesterday, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that as soon as the tribunal was convened, the suspension of the leader immediately came into effect. And, for the leader to go to the courts, to turn his situation around was “an abuse of process”.

“The office belongs to the people of Papua New Guinea and, therefore, for the leader to continue to remain in office when he had been referred is a mockery of the Constitution.

“Once the allegations were made against a leader, that leader’s integrity is called into question,” Kirriwom, who read out the decision, said.

“The suspension of the leader is automatic and he must vacate office immediately to preserve his good name,” he added.

The court’s decision was made following submissions on grounds of law from both parties between March and April.

The court also overruled an appeal against a decision by National Court judge Justice Ere Kariko. It also extended an interim stay order obtained from Justice Mark Sevua on Feb 19 pending disposition of the substantive appeal currently before the court.

In a directional hearing yesterday afternoon, the chief justice ruled that the substantive appeal be heard on June 30. He also directed parties to file their written submissions at least five days before the hearing date.

Pruiatch was referred to the tribunal over allegations of misconduct in office following investigations by the Ombudsman Commission.

The allegations included double-dipping into support vehicle allowances, double-dipping into operational cost allowances for support vehicles, improper receipts of public funds for fuel costs for private vehicles, double-dipping into entertainment allowances and misappropriation of 2003 district support grants.

 

 

Happy 3rd Birthday, Keith Nalu

Happy 3rd Birthday to my third son, Keith 'Baby' Nalu, who turns three years old today, Tuesday, June 1, 2010.

That is sadly without Mum, Hula, who left us so tragically in Easter 2008.
I love you son, and God Bless You as Your prepare to take your place in this wide, wide world.
Love from Dad, as well as big brothers Malum Nalu Jr, Gedi, and sister Moasing, plus family and friends in Daru, Lae, Goroka, Papua New Guinea, Australia and the world.
The world is your stage son!

Papua New Guinea Coffee Festival reinvents itself

Art award winning painting by Elly Gendua
School students at the Variety Matinee at Raun Raun Theatre
Ms PNG Coffee Festival 2010 being congratulated by Bougainville president James Tanis
Judges at the PNG Coffee Festival Ball
Art award runner-up painting by Michael Kenny
Ms PNG Coffee Festival runner-up Scholar Mitio with her dad, former Coffee Industry Corporation CEO, Ricky Mitio
Ladies having a great night at the PNG Coffee Festival Ball
Guests mingling at the PNG Coffee Festival Ball

By NORMAN CARVER
Founder

As any successful organisation must do, the 8th PNG Coffee Festival - staged over May 27, 28 and 29, 2010 - has had to reinvent itself.
The festival has adapted to a changing environment and circumstances - and with the swell in population and vast numbers of idle people that congregate around the main market area.
It was decided that the event revisit its origins by staging a smaller, better-focused event.
And as such – much to the disappointment of many - there were no large contingents of singsing groups and secondly there was no trade fair.
However, in so doing, organisers achieved one of its goals set previously – which was to improve the comfort and safety of festival attendees.

Festival’s objective is economic self-reliance
The PNG Coffee Festival is essentially a fun and creative means to promote the message to the Highlands community that individuals must seek a self-reliant and sustainable means of earning a living. The theme for the 2010 event was “nurturing our children and protecting our coffee”.
A cornerstone of the festival is educating school-age children, and this year saw schools continuing to capitalise on the opportunities offered by the festival (refer schools programme below).
Throughout all the weekend’s activities, coffee was consistently featured and promoted as the No. 1 crop for sustaining a livelihood at the village level.

Event programme offered something for all
A range of activities were staged, aiming to provide relevance to a full community cross-section.
1. Coffee cupping and coffee kitchen - Staged at the Pacific Gardens and featured coffee tasting and food samples
2. Coffee Festival Art Award - An award night to recognise local artists held at the University of Goroka library
3. Fireworks - Two nights of major fireworks displays;
4. Schools programme - Featured competitions for students of all age groups, student debates and light entertainment at the Raun Raun Theatre.
5. Variety matinee – Lively afternoon entertainment, directed by the Raun Raun Theatre Company.
6. Miss Coffee Festival Pageant - Pageant held over three days, with final crowning taking place during the Coffee Festival Ball.
7. Coffee Festival Ball – Gala evening featuring light entertainment, dinner and dance.

Coffee Festival Art Award
Over 40 pieces of artwork were featured, including both painted and printed works, from street vendors, students and other members of the public.
The art award this year highlighted the real struggle of artists on the street – earning a living.
Sadly, one such artist, Michael Kenny whose art works were featured at the Art Award - died on the Monday before the award.
Michael Kenny was a promising young artist whose painting style had evolved from simple portraits to detailed depictions of life in the Highlands of PNG.
The award night, held at the UOG Library in front of a fullhouse crowd, was successful and organisers will look to build on this effort and offer more options for artists in the future.
The 2010 winners were: Mr Elly Gendua first place (K700), and the late Mr Michael Kenny second place (K300).
In addition, all submissions were appreciated and in acknowledgement of their work, K50 was given to each participant.

Coffee Kitchen and Coffee Cupping
A new inclusion in this year’s event - highlighting the food and beverage side of coffee.
With the Coffee Cupping – samples were taken from growers, with roasting and judging taking place on location at the venue Pacific Gardens Hotel.
The winner for the Cupping prize was Mrs Marie Yogiyo.
The Coffee Industry Corporation officiated at the event with their quality control experts handling the judging.
The Coffee Kitchen saw food entries from Mrs Elly Gendua and Mama Ria, incorporating coffee flavours.
This activity was a learning experience and organisers hope to build on this aspect to given more prominence to Coffee Cupping and to Coffee Kitchen-related foods in the future.

Schools programme
One of the major activities at the 2010 festival was the school’s programme.
Six competitions were staged for schools in the Goroka district.
The categories were: drawing, poems, model making, essay, debating and poster making.
The six competitions were given to elementary, primary and secondary students.
The theme for all competitions was ‘Nurturing our Children and Protecting our Coffee’.
The judging of the competitions took place at the Raun Raun Theatre, and was presented together with light entertainment from Kere Cultural Group, comedians and the traditional wear parade for Miss Coffee Festival.
By the end of the day, a total of 18 winners were announced covering all categories.
The winners for 2010 were:
Drawing: Emmanuel Belome (Goroka Secondary); Maxi Unua (Kabiufa);
Poems: The class of 3 A West Goroka; Abraham Kusak (GIS); Quintessa Harokave (GIS)
Model making: Safarita F (West Goroka); Sil Bare (Homu); Kiaturu Lero (East Goroka);
Poster making: Kenny Hanagpo (Goroka Secondary); Tracy / Alexia / Shayenne (GIS); Dunstan Samuel (North Goroka)
Essays: Leonie John (Goroka Secondary); Rose Tony (Goroka Grammar); Jonah Sao (Goroka Secondary)
The debate: Goroka Secondary Team (Jessica Bablis, Iran Yanda, Naomi Phillip)

Variety matinee
Under the direction of Raun Raun Theatre management -, this years Variety Matinee, showcased 12 groups from all parts of the Highlands.
In true Raun Raun Theatre style the performance was lively and entertained all who attended.

Miss Coffee Festival Pageant
Eight Goroka-based beauties were put through three days of scrutiny from judges.
Entrants were interviewed by judges on various criteria; they spoke to the public on different community issues; and paraded in their traditional costume as well as evening wear.
Miss Michelle Mondia was crowned Miss Coffee Festival 2010, with Miss Scholar Mitio winning the first runner-up prize.
Miss Coffee Festival will be looking for a sponsor to take her to the Miss PNG Quest, where she will be Miss Coffee.

Fireworks captivate Goroka
Beneath the full moon, echoed shouts of euphoria throughout Goroka Town, the valley and surrounding mountain ranges as the festival team shot hundreds of fireworks into the evening sky over two nights. Reports from jubilant and excited people kept coming in from villages far and wide, in the days that followed the fireworks displays.
Organisers promise even more for next festival
Organisers will continue to be ready to adapt the event to suit the ever-changing environment under which the event is staged.
Furthermore, organisers hope to build upon the following areas:
• Develop further the schools programme;
• Develop further the art award and create opportunities for artists;
• Further develop the Coffee Kitchen and Coffee Cupping; and
• Continue to prioritise the overall comfort and experience for participants
The next Festival will be held in 2011, with dates set closer to that time.

Sponsors
Nestle (PNG) Ltd
The National Newspaper
Karai Bilong Kumul (KBK) radio
Pacific Gardens Hotel
G.F. Property
Bird of Paradise Hotel
Coca Cola Amatil (PNG) Ltd
Care International
Eastern Highlands Provincial Government
Farmsets
Coffee Industry Corporation
Autonomous Bougainville Government
Guard Dog Security
Super Value Store
Department of Commerce & Industry
Gold Bell Constructions
Ceeman – Hire Cars
G4S
Sengda Trading Ltd
Care International
City Pharmacy
Park Ridge Estates
Summer Institute of Linguistics

Some selected results from the recently released 2010 Lowy Instutute Poll

From PAUL OATES

'AusAID states the aim of Australia's overseas aid programme 'is to assist developing countries reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development, ..'
So what is the report card on AusAid achievements in Papua New Guinea?
The largest group (48%) surveyed said we should be doing more.
________________________________

The 2010 Lowy Institute Poll reports the results of a nationally representative opinion survey of 1,001 Australian adults conducted in Australia between 6 and 21 March 2010.1 It is the sixth annual Lowy Poll.
The Rudd Government has committed Australia to increasing its foreign aid to 0.5% of Gross National Income (GNI) by 2015-16,7 but what do Australians think about the size of Australia's aid programme and what it should be trying to achieve?
Asked to say whether 'the government is currently giving too much, too little or about the right amount of aid to developing countries' a majority (55%) said 'about the right amount'. Just over one fifth (22%) said it was giving 'too much' and about the same percentage (19%) said 'too little'.
Older Australians (45 years old or older) were three and a half times more likely than younger Australians (18 to 29 years of age) to say the government is currently giving 'too
much' aid (29% compared with 8%). Men were also more likely to say this than women (26% compared with 17%). AusAID states the aim of Australia's overseas aid programme 'is to assist developing countries reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development, in line with Australia's national interest.
Presented with 'four possible objectives for Australia's overseas aid programme', the highest level of support (measured by those saying it was 'a top priority') was for 'reducing poverty' (58%) followed by 'improving the quality of government' (53%) and 'promoting economic development' (49%). The least supported option was 'promoting Australian interests' (42%).

Papua New Guinea and aid

Papua New Guinea - a former Australian colony - is one of the largest recipients of Australian aid. But the country continues to suffer from serious development and security problems. Asked whether 'Australia should be doing more, doing less or about the same as it is doing now in Papua New Guinea' almost half (48%) of the adult population said it should be doing 'more' while 42% said 'about the same'.
Just 6% said 'less'.

Values

Lowy polling suggests Australians have a streak of altruism when it comes to foreign policy. This year, for example, Australians placed 'reducing poverty' ahead of 'promoting
Australian interests' as a top priority for Australia's aid programme. But how moral do they think Australian foreign policy is compared to other countries?
Asked if it was 'above average, about average, or below average' a majority (57%) of Australians said it was morally 'about average'. A quarter (24%) said it was 'above average'
and 14% said it was 'below average'. Men were more likely than women to say the morality of Australia's foreign policy was 'above average' (29% compared with 18%).