By Gabriel Katuho
THE Oil Palm Industry Corporation has completed a two-day validation and review workshop of the draft National Oil Palm Policy in Port Moresby last week.
The corporation and key government departmental representatives collaborated in the review of the draft policy, which started in Kimbe for the New Guinea Islands, Lae for Mamose and concluded with Port Moresby for the Southern region.
Minister for Oil Palm and Nakanai Member of Parliament (MP) Francis Maneke, on first day of workshop said: “Under the former Minister for Agriculture John Simon, two bills were funded – the ‘Management Bill and the Authority Bill’.
“It was presented to the State Solicitor’s office for clearance but legislation is always accompanied by a policy to guide its implementation.
“What we are discussing includes the input of important stakeholders so that we can come up with a policy that is more nationalistic.”
The two-day validation workshop was attended by key government departmental representatives and policy developers.
Department of Agriculture and Livestock Secretary Dr Nelson Simbiken thanked the Minister for Oil Palm Francis Maneke and OPIC chief executive officer Kepsen Pupita for developing the policy for the oil palm industry.
“The agriculture sector is now going through a reform because the Marape-Rosso Government is keen that it will be driving the economy of this country in the next five to ten years,” he said.
“The government wants to see productivity from the different sub-sectors of the agriculture sector.
“Despite oil palm, livestock and coffee being split into separate ministries, DAL will remain policy guardians and coordinate operations to ensure that the sub sectors deliver on the targets set in the Medium-Term Development Plan IV.”
