MEMBER for Menyamya, Hon. Solan Loifa has reminded the government to re-look into the agriculture space within the four regions and make more funding available to ensure growth and expansion.
He made this call today during grievances debate in parliament.
The Menyamya MP said agriculture has been the back bone of every Papua New Guinean and many today earn their living through the agriculture.
He therefore proposed to the government to revisit its funding allocation to agriculture and invest more in the area where it can revive most of the plantation centers in the country.
“All these plantations, cocoa, copra and coffee are revenue earners for the country when exported out,” the MP explained.
“I am appealing that we allocate adequate funding for these plantations and at the same engage the youths to work in the various plantations.”
Loifa also urged all the MPs to stand in unity and support his call for to government to allocate more funding assistance to heavily invest in the existing plantations.
“When we continue to do this for every other plantation, the country will experience growth in the economy through export earnings,” he stated.
The MP explained that this will help boost the living standard of the families in the community and help to bring back the economy of the country.
“When we are talking about oil and gas, that’s only applicable for technical people who have the knowledge and capacity to invest in it,” he said.
“Agriculture provides opportunity not to the educated people only, but to all the citizens of the country.”
While the country holds the title of oil and gas, Loifa reminded the leaders that agriculture has been the forefront of the country in the early history where oil and gas was not yet developed.