Minister supports rural economy

BUILDING a strong economy based on investments and growth in the primary industries such as coffee, cocoa, oil palm, vanilla and others remain a key priority of the Pangu-led Government, Minister for Commerce and Industry Hon Henry Jons Amuli says.Minister Amuli who is also the MP for Sohe in Oro said these when presenting a cheque of K100,000 to the Office of PNG Cooperatives Society on behalf of his Sohe District Development Authority to be presented to Oro Kaiva Coffee Growers Cooperatives (OKCGC) in Popondetta recently.The minister said coffee production in Oro has been on huge decline over the years due to lack of support for farmers to gain better returns from their labour.“Most of our coffee growers have abandoned their coffee blocks because they were not able to get a better pricing. They feel they were not being rewarded well on their labour,” Minister Amuli said.He said the Government under the leadership of Prime Minister James Marape has identified the issues and provided much needed interventions such as the price support program and funding support for small to medium size businesses since coming into office.“The Government also made available funding to support the growth of primary industries and this vision and commitment will unleash the rural economic potential,” he said. He also committed K1 million from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to support coffee rehabilitation and production in the Oro Province through the Oro Kaiva Coffee Growers Cooperatives.“Under my Ministry, we are looking at supporting cooperatives and small to medium size businesses in the primary industry sector at community levels.“I want our rural communities to feel the Government’s economic intervention programmes. They must be economically empowered to improve their social living standards.That is our focus and we will continue to provide support and interventions throughout the country,” Amuli said.He urged the two conflicting factions of the OKCGC to resolve their conflict and work in unity to serve the interest of coffee growers.“I want to place you the executives on notice to solve your in-house issues and work together as one team to receive the funding and revive coffee in Oro.”Registrar of PNG Cooperative Society Brian Waffi thanked Minister Amuli and said this was the first time in Oro where a district has actually provided funding support to the PNG Cooperative Society office to assist farmers.“You are the Minister responsible for cooperatives and you have set the right example to allocate funding from your district to support cooperatives.“This is the way forward to drive the Government’s economic agenda. Government agencies at national, sub-national and local levels must all work together,” Mr Waffi said.