Agriculture & Fisheries
From The Report: Papua New Guinea 2014
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As part of efforts to tackle the country’s over-reliance on mineral and energy exports, the government is supporting the growth of the agriculture sector to promote diversification. Forestry, agricultural and fishery activity currently accounts for one third of the economy and remains the principle livelihood of the vast majority of Papua New Guinea’s citizens. Agriculture exports dropped from $1.54bn in 2011 to $1.1bn in 2012, according to the central bank, with much of the decline due to falling commodity prices. Looking forward, commodity prices should rebound with demand gaining momentum after a stronger first quarter in 2014. Several agricultural subsectors such as forestry, palm oil and fisheries have developed highly profitable, yet more environmentally responsible, business models. Planned improvements in transportation infrastructure are due to pave the way for more efficiency and expansion into untapped areas. This chapter contains interviews with Greg Worthington-Eyre, CEO, Trukai Industries; and John Kasu, Managing Director, National Fisheries Authority, and a viewpoint from Tommy Tomscoll, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Key cash crops rebound following market fluctuations
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Endowed with a favourable climate, high seasonal rainfall, good quality soil and low-intensity farming methods, the agricultural industry has traditionally been the most consistent contributor to Papua New Guinea’s economy as well as its largest employer. Although export revenues have been outpaced by mineral and energy sales, the sustainability of the agricultural sector ensures its place as a pillar of PNG’s future economy as it was in the days before gold mines and natural gas projects. Forestry,…

Viewpoint

Tommy Tomscoll, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, on efforts to develop the agriculture sector
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Agriculture continues to be a thriving industry in Papua New Guinea, but unfortunately the wrong people have been benefitting from its growth. While farmers sell 1 kg of coffee for PGK5 ($2.03), buyers resell it to dry factories for four times the price and even export it for five times the price. The same happens for other traditional crops as well. This vicious circle has to stop, as it keeps farmers at the low end of the chain, which is high risk and low value. We want to empower farmers by providing…

Analysis

Support grows for the leading cash crop
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First introduced over 120 years ago during the era of German colonisation, coffee cultivation and exportation as a cash crop has had a long and successful history in PNG. From its humble beginnings as an export to Australia at the turn of the 20th century, cultivation of the crop has grown over the years to elevate coffee to the second-most-valuable agricultural cash crop in the country. Riding a surge in global coffee prices in 2005, coffee sales even managed to surpass established export champion…

Interview

OBG talks to Greg Worthington-Eyre, CEO, Trukai Industries
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Interview:Greg Worthington-Eyre How is Papua New Guinea improving food security for its growing population? GREG WORTHINGTON-EYRE: Traditional commercial crops such as coffee and palm oil provide a vital income for the national economy; however, I am not sure that they meet the needs of food security in PNG. You need the right dietary mix in order to build immune systems against malaria, tuberculosis and other communicable diseases that are common in this country. As far as I’m concerned,…

Interview

OBG talks to John Kasu, Managing Director, National Fisheries Authority
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Interview:John Kasu How serious is the European Commission’s warning that Papua New Guinea has failed to monitor illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing? JOHN KASU: PNG is at risk of being identified as a non-cooperative country in the fight against IUU fishing, a practice that is depleting fish stocks worldwide. In this specific incident, however, I consider the warning to be unfair vis-a-vis PNG given all the progress we have made in recent years with revamping our tuna management…

Analysis

Baiting the hook: Facilitating the expansion of the country’s tuna industry
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Already one of the world’s premier tuna producers, PNG is looking to further capitalise on its rich fisheries sector by boosting downstream capabilities. In its bid to ensconce itself among the global seafood exporting elite, on par with the likes of Thailand or Ecuador, PNG is working to more than double its domestic cannery production. The linchpin of the country’s fisheries development is the tuna industry, with PNG annually supplying around 10% of the world’s tuna supply. In The Net Catchment…