PRIME Minister James Marape made a call for Papua New Guinea’s livestock industry to be revived urgently for import replacement as well as to be an exporter.
Marape, in a press statement said Papua New Guinea once had a thriving cattle industry that was started in the colonial days by experienced Australian cattlemen.
“Once upon a time, the Highlands Highway from Mt. Hagen to Lae was filled with cattle on the roadside,” he recalled.
“Starting at Corn Farm outside Mt. Hagen to six-mile outside Lae, you could find thousands of cattle.
“Sadly, since independence in 1975, PNG’s cattle numbers have dropped to an all-time low.
“Settlers moved in on State land used for cattle and abattoirs,” he said.
Marape said his government had directed the Livestock Development Corporation (LDC) to make a move in taking back all the state land occupied by settlers and use it to rebuild Papua New Guinea’s cattle industry.
The State Land Reclamation Project was launched by former Minister for Agriculture and Livestock, John Simon at Corn Farm at the border of Western Highlands and Jiwaka last December.
Marape said the newly appointed Minister for the new Ministry of Livestock, Hon. Seki Agisa would ensure that what Simon left off was continued and also to ensure that areas like his own province of Western, which had so much grassland, could be used to raise cattle with Indonesia and Australia just next door.
“He will be given the necessary budget support to unleash the full potential of the livestock industry in our country,” said Marape.
Hon. Prime Minister, A Brilliant move to revive livestock industry. It will grow in no time as long as funds are made available.
I own cattles, my dream to fill up my grassland is always there. This is now an opportunity for me.
How do I go about securing fundings from the government?
We can assist with cattle that suit the environment
Great move,our Action Prime Minister,Hon.James Marape,our Gold,Cooper, Sliver, Nickel,Oil & Gas are Non-rewable Resources we have and once it’s extracted and used they are all gone for good, leaving nothing but you talking about Agriculture & Livestock, they’re a Re-newable Resources and after use we could reserve it for the forthcoming generation so it’s better we could establish Agriculture & Livestock Ministry as “Department of Primary Industry (DPI),as before in all the Provinces down to the District Level.
And that’s where we could generate more income for sake of our economy’s growth, inorder to “TAKE BACK PNG”
TONNY S.BROWN-Enga Province.
Agriculture is the backbone of Papua New Guinea. If we want to adapt new things apart from the ones our father and ancestors did, it will take time, cost more money to build, hire expertriates and make trial for consideration.(cost a lot of money and time consuming)
Supporting and expanding the existing/existed(like cattle) one is more best. The country can export fast in Quality and Quantity.
Is there any supportive fund allocated by the government to revive and assist local farmers to reach the export level?
Thank you honorable Prime Minister James Marape.
That’s a good move to take back PNG, concentrating on cattle only is not that smart idea, we need to also go into sheeps, goats, pigs and other commercial farming animal. For me, I need funding for raising my goat, in Raicoast, Madang Province. We are right now, struggling to revive, a old run down, cocoa and copra plantation, beneath the trees are goats to assist get rid of weeds. I started, only with two goats, in July 2020, after two years now, I have 50 plus goat now. Hoping by year 2023, the number will increase to 150 plus..
Thanks
complete step one then going with next chapters