OPIC keen on meeting MTDP4 target 

 By Gabriel Katuho

THE oil palm industry is the leading agriculture export commodity in Papua New Guinea and contributes 40-50% of the K4 billion earned from the country’s exports, local industry experts have been told.

This has been made known by the Department of Agriculture and Livestock Secretary Dr Nelson Simbiken during the review of the Oil Palm Industry Corporation’s draft National Oil Palm policy in Port Moresby last Saturday. 

“In MTDP IV, the Marape-Rosso Government has envisioned that agricultural commodity exports must double by the end of 2027, which will in effect, promote the growth of the economy to K200 billion,” he said.

Dr Simbiken said subsequently, 20% of the envisioned K200bn growth will come from the agriculture sector and equates to K40bn.

“If the agriculture sector is to contribute K40bn to the national economy in 2027, then we must have the strong players like the oil palm industry taking the lead,” he said.

“It is possible that the oil palm industry can contribute half of the total expected from agricultural earnings as we have massive tracts of land available across PNG.”

“97% of our land is under customary ownership but under arrangements, we can secure this land for plantations while utilizing the nucleus arrangement.

“For the oil palm industry to contribute K20bn in 2027, we need to plant 1.5 million hectres.

“This acreage (1.5m ha) can be made up of up to 70 nucleus sectors across the country.

“These are achievable and I am sure that the policy we are working on will produce results to that effect.

Dr Simbiken said the government’s targets for the industry were within reach and OPIC was responsible for ensuring the policies in place were coordinated and implemented towards its achievement.