MEMBER for Ambunti – Dreikikir Johnson Wapunai says the Labour Mobility and Seasonal Worker’s Program introduced by the government through the Department of Treasury is a window dressing and Modern-day Slavery.
Mr Wapunai who is also the Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Finance and Lands and Physical Planning said: “30 years ago we were told by the Australians Papua New Guineans cannot grow rice yet, today our farmers are growing rice right across the country but in small scale.”
He said our people need the right expertise and technology where the government must get its priorities right or else, continue to invest heavily on scam programmes such as labour mobility and seasonal worker’s programme.
“The government seems to be rejoicing and beating its chest proclaiming that programmes like this one will change the lives of our people but the reality remains – it will not bring impact on our country’s economy on the long run,” Mr Wapunai said.
He said the agriculture production and exports will only increase when we start to do things differently rather than our current systems where money and other resources are injected into Agriculture, Livestock and MSME and rural business without much impact.
Mr Wapunai said we need to change our focus and ensure there are transport access and better roads, jetties and airstrips to take out agriculture produce
“There must be law and order and enforcement by ensuring law breakers are caught, prosecuted and punished. Government must ensure proper public utilities like water, power, telephone and roads are available so that businesses can continue to work instead of looking for alternative such as diesel generators.
“The government must ensure tax rebates and refunds such as in agriculture sector is done on time as one of the good examples would be the GST rebates on coffee is still pending since 2017,” Mr Wapunai said.
He said we must encourage farmers and growers to move away from subsistence and livelihoods farming using grass knives and spades and use slashers, knapsack sprayers, pulpers, tractors etc; so as to reduce time and labour.
Mr Wapunai said: “If we can get coffee seedlings into the ground, rehabilitate old trees and improve husbandry practices, coffee production and exports can increase in a year so as other commodity crop.”
He said the answer is in the ground and better transport access and safe and secured farming communities to continue planting, working, harvesting and processing and selling.
“We must Improve on research and innovation and ensure extension and training that also needs better and cheap transport access and giving credit where its due without so much bureaucracy and paperwork to follow on rather than what we experience today.
“We must motivate farmers and growers by giving incentives including direct cash into farm inputs that can be recovered through taxes,” he said.
He said it is about time that PNG must mobilise resources for commercialisation into the modern world food technology.
