Price war on rice begins

By BOSORINA ROBBY

 

DESPITE 19 brands of rice being available locally, the price of this staple has not fallen, the Independent Consumer and Competition Commission said, The National reports.

It said, instead, rice prices had risen in most urban and semi-urban households, which, in most cases, was rice supplied by Trukai Industries Ltd, the main distributor and miller.

An ICCC report stated that the declaration of Trukai's Roots Rice to be price-monitored was because that brand "is traditionally consumed by low to middle income earners and is currently the leading brand in the market".

"Any price changes would lead to price increases on other rice brands."

The report said the setup of other companies had not led to a fall in prices of the Trukai brand.

It said prices had increased to match the price imposed by Trukai.

ICCC commissioner and chief executive officer Dr Billy Manoka told the Ekonomics Society forum that the increasing competition in the rice market had not translated into falling retail prices for consumers in recent years.

He said the ICCC "is maintaining a vigilant eye for collusion among wholesalers and importers".

He said the ICCC moved away from direct price control to factory gate price monitoring of rice, flour and sugar in the mid-2000s as there was some sort of competition.

"However, competition does not appear to be working as we view that retail prices have continued to increase over recent years not withstanding falling factory gate prices for some of these products".

"The commission has commenced monitoring the wholesale and retail prices of all brands apart from the factory gate prices of the products that are milled in PNG," he said.

An online survey into 32 consumers' buying power revealed that despite being expensive, Trukai has always been the trusted brand for them (12/32) and they kept on buying it, preferring its taste and quality.

Nine respondents preferred the Trukai Jasmine rice because it is cheaper than the other Trukai brands and tasted better, offering a healthier choice to Roots Rice (8/32) while three chose to buy Brown Rice and other rice brands.

Showtime tomorrow as NARI celebrates 14th birthday

Caption: School children being shown analytical services provided by NARI at last year's innovation show.

 

By JAMES LARAKI of NARI

 

The PNG National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) turned 14 years old on Monday.

Fourteen years on, NARI has been in the forefront, promoting and undertaking agricultural research for sustainable development.

The institute has made dedicated contribution to innovative agricultural development in the country through scientific research, knowledge creation and information exchange.

During this short period, the institute has been recognised nationally and internationally as the leading research organisation of high development relevance to Papua New Guinea.

To commemorate its 14^th anniversary, the institute is hosting an 'Agricultural Innovations Show' at the Sir Alkan Tololo Research Centre, 10 Mile – Bubia, outside Lae, tomorrow.

Director-General Dr Raghunath Ghodake said the event was organised around the theme "Investing in Innovative Agriculture for Prosperity".

Dr Gohdake said the theme reaffirmed NARI's view that progress through innovative agricultural development was essential if PNG was to realise Vision 2050 and become a wealthy and prosperous nation.

"The nation has the need, great potential and vast opportunity to prosper through innovative agriculture, and hence the focus on investing in innovative agriculture," he said.

"The theme is in line with NARI's efforts in encouraging consistent investment in agriculture, particularly in research, to develop technologies and innovations which are crucial agents in innovative agriculture and rural development.

"With the economy projected to grow at 8.5 % and the LNG and other related projects coming on stream, PNG has a more favourable environment and opportunities now than ever before for all stakeholders to make positive contribution to innovative agricultural development in general, and to research, science and technology, in particular."

Since its inception in 2007, the agricultural innovations show has become a popular annual event to recognise and value the importance of innovations in agricultural development, and create and promote awareness on the significant role of research, science and technology in innovative agricultural and rural development.

Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology Paru Aihi will be the chief guest while the guest of honour will be Morobe Governor Luther Wenge.

On the occasion of the 14^th anniversary, Dr Ghodake acknowledged the invaluable support from the government of PNG, AusAID, European Union, the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (AVIAR) and key collaborators and partners locally and abroad.

European Union project workshop at NARI

Caption: Participants of the workshop at the Sir Alkan Tololo Research Centre – Bubia, outside Lae.

 

By JAMES LARAKI of NARI

 

An inception workshop is underway this week at the National Agricultural Research Institute headquarters in Lae to develop and plan activities of a mega project to be implemented in three Western Pacific countries.

The European Union (EU) -supported project "Generation and adaptation of improved agricultural technologies to mitigate climate change-imposed risks to food production within vulnerable smallholder farming communities in Western Pacific countries" is implemented by NARI in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL), Solomon Islands, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), Vanuatu and the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences (BOKU) of Austria.

Action coordinator Dr Workneh Ayalew said the inception workshop indicated the start of the implementation phase of the project after it was officially launched in Port Moresby in March this year.

Dr Workneh said the objectives of the inception workshop were to: apprise participants of the planned project activities; canvas opinions of key stakeholders on the major activities and on selection of suitable target communities; and affirm list of activities to be undertaken during year one of the project.

Dr Worknew, who is also in charge of the livestock component of the project, said the workshop was expected to create common understanding among key stakeholders on the objectives, major activities and expected results of the project, and administrative arrangements.

"It also expected to collate background and baseline information about target communities and related actions," he added.

The project, which comes under the EU science and technology programme, is to mitigate climate change risks associated to food security and livelihoods for vulnerable smallholder farming communities in the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea.

It is aimed at improving food production capacity of smallholder farming communities in the three countries, where climate change-induced problems are becoming significant threats to agricultural production and productivity.

The main focus of this project is to identify appropriate types of water technologies and alternative crops/crop varieties and livestock/livestock feeding systems to help sustain and improve food production under drought, excess precipitation and saline soil conditions.

The project, to be implemented over a five-year period, will cover 11 vulnerable sites in the three countries, covering about 100 households per site.

This will eventually lead to about 2.4 million smallholder crop-livestock mixed farmers.

More than 20 participants comprising representatives from the Delegation of EU to PNG, NARI, MAL, DARD, Boku, World Vision Pacific development group and community representatives are in attendance.

Similar workshops are planned to be held in the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu this month to start the implementation phase of the project in these countries.

Importance of training in food safety standards

By SOLDIER BURUKA of DAL

 

Papua New Guinea needs to strengthen its efforts in promoting food safety standards and improving its level of compliance to sanitary and phytosanitary measures.

Like other developing countries, PNG is facing increased challenges due to globalisation and a competitive international environment and must work with relevant international bodies that govern international safety standards.

This was the message given to participants attending a training program on the quality management system auditors and basic tools for food safety.

The training is the first of its kind and has attracted participants from various organisations from the private and government sectors.

In a speech delivered on behalf of Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL), the director for science and technology branch, Ian Onaga, said as PNG geared up for trade liberalisation, it needed to adjust to cope and respond proactively to challenges of globalisation and follow suitable trade protocols.

Onaga said PNG must work together with relevant organisations to strengthen the multicultural trading system that must ensure fairness and equity.

The setting up of internationally recognised food safety systems is a sure way of ensuring fairness and equity in trade, in addition to securing better recognition.

PNG is a member of various international agencies and has an obligation to undertake the necessary steps for monitoring and ensuring compliance for the safety of its people.

"It is very important to strengthen PNG's capacity to be more competent in the field of quality and safety. For safeguarding on the long term environment and health of consumers, government must develop a participatory approach to compliance."

Onaga said the training would help to ensure that PNG could benefit within the importing and exporting channels, and boost the capability to access and control the possible risks to the environment and human health situations.

Participants will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to provide safety food and ascertain quality of food.

The training, which will run from May 2-13, has been made possible under the K11 million EU-funded project "Trade Related Assistance" (EU-TRAP) to PNG, supervised by the Department of National Planning and Monitoring and implemented by the Trade Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Under component 2, the two-week training is being facilitated and managed by the newly set- up Agrofood Safety and Codex PNG Unit within DAL.

This unit, located in the science and technology branch, has been one of the main beneficiaries of the EU-TRAP assistance since 2009.

Ian Erskine, an international certified trainer and facilitator from ACI Global company, based in Australia who has vast knowledge, skills and experience in the field of quality management systems auditing and food safety aspects of the entire food chain, has been engaged to conduct the training in PNG.

Most of the participants are in one way or another responsible for addressing the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) compliance issues in the country in an attempt to promote trade facilitation and protect the health of consumers.

EU-TRAP management and DAL hope that after this intensive training, PNG will benefit tremendously once the trainees apply their new knowledge and skills to promote SPS compliance issues.

Weekly coffee market report for Papua New Guinea

Please lick to enlarge

Greens leader vows to probe undersea mining

By PATRICK TALU

 

THE Australian Greens leader, Bob Brown, said he will push for an Australian senate inquiry into the impact of the world's first undersea mining operated by Nautilus Minerals for its Solwara 1 project in the Bismarck Sea, The National reports.

Brown had just left Port Moresby after attending PNG Greens Party launch in Madang, where he met with Environment Minister Benny Allan and representatives of the PNG Greens party.

Brown told Radio Australia upon his return home early this week that he was worried about the environmental impact of the Solwara 1 gold and copper project on PNG's north coast, the world's first deep sea mine.

Brown said the project was using new robot technologies to mine the sea floor.

"This is something that's going to, if it works there, and Singaporean vessels are currently involved in experimenting with that, extend to oceans elsewhere around the world and of course, the dumping from the process metals there is going to be left on the sea floor as well.

"It's a very, very worrying direction for mining to be taking," he said.

The deep sea mining project is set to begin production in 2013 following the official contract signing between the company and the state's nominee, Petromin Holdings, in March to finalise details to start work.

The project is said to set the benchmark as the world's first deep sea mining project with capital investment of about US$387 million, which is almost K1 billion in the 20 years of its lifespan.

Nautilus' exploration results have shown that there are high grade mineralised copper deposits 1,600m below sea level and extending to a maximum depth of 52m below the seafloor.

The exploration and drilling results show that the site is expected to produce around 800,000 tonnes of copper and up to 200,000 ounces of gold a year.

It is speculated that the project begins a new factor in the mining industry with the start of the first deep sea mining project.

Petromin, who owns 30% of the project will be meeting the costs on its own strengths while Nautilus, as the operator will put up 70%.

 

Chan: Free press means democracy

 

By BOSORINA ROBBY

 

MEDIA freedom comes with great responsibility to be honest and fair in reports and to call attention when democracy is failing, Sir Julius Chan says, The National reports.

Speaking at Media Freedom Day celebrations in Port Moresby yesterday, the New Ireland governor challenged a gathering of media practitioners, partners and University of Papua New Guinea journalism students to use the free press to preserve democracy.

"For democracy to continue to flourish, we must promote freedom of the press," Sir Julius said.

"You must use that power to constantly insist that the government and its institutions, particularly the people's parliament that abysmally fails in its constitutional responsibilities, must fulfil its obligation to operate in open, transparent and accountable ways."

Sir Julius said the power of a free press "is to create and sustain democracy, freedom, respect and the God-given right to dignity for all human beings".

"But, on the other hand, it is an equally great responsibility. With your voice, there is the possibility of abuse of power.

"You must never become a tool of special interests or a particular political party or ideology.

"You must avoid slander, rumour, and unsubstantiated accusations and ensure the protection of the rights of people," he said.

Sir Julius said the twin challenges of power and responsibility of a free press had not led to the abuse of its power as the media had tried to act responsibly in serving the people.

He said since independence, the country had experienced and adhered to forms of democracy, progress and development that "did not actually achieve the substance of change in moving the country forward".

"This is where the free press needs to step in to make people aware of the failures and help in doing a better job.

"Let me say, at the onset, that I have taken some responsibility. I have been in positions of power. I have led this country. I have been several times finance minister and I freely acknowledge that on my watch, as on the watch of others who have led this country, our people have not really moved forward.

"This is not idle rhetoric. We need to open our eyes and the press, above all others, has the power to open our eyes. And, if we open our eyes, what do we see?" he asked.