Prime Minister James Marape has urged Papua New Guineans to venture into small agriculture businesses. He made the call today in Maprik, East Sepik, when launching price support for agriculture produce in front of over 5000 local cocoa, vanilla and coffee growers.
Also present were East Sepik Governor Allan Bird, Agriculture and Livestock Minister John Simon, State Enterprises Minister William Duma, Education Minister Jimmy Uguro and Defence Minister Solan Mirism.
Prime Minister Marape said price support meant that growers would get better prices for their produce.
“We will partner districts and provinces who want to help National Government empower our people with increased revenue from their investments in agriculture,” he said.
“There is a global demand for coffee, vanilla, cocoa, copra, oil palm, rubber, etc. The Government’s investment to give good price to the growers will mean increased production and increases export, which is beneficial to the country and our people.”
“Every citizen of our country has land, which can produce one or two cash crop, for which our citizens can get good prices for their produce. The Government, through each district and province, will buy at points where growers are. This will cut away middle men and it will be a win-win for everyone.”
Prime Minister Marape said the difference between his Loloata team of leaders and Peter O’Neill and Belden Namah’s Crown camp “was such new policies where we want to empower our people”.
“My Government is focused on empowering the majority 80 per cent of our people who are presently living a subsistence life,” he said.
“This is a deliberate policy to bring this majority of Papua New Guineans into the cash economy. We are not just talking but implementing our policies like agriculture price support, and SME loan scheme, with Budget support.”
“I encourage Papua New Guineans not to laze around but pick up an agriculture SME – which is now profitable with better prices through the Government’s price support policy.”
