Port Moresby, Wednesday, March 5, 2025 –
Minister for Agriculture, Hon. John Boito, has presented a detailed report on the status and future direction of Papua New Guinea’s agriculture sector during a high-level ministerial meeting with Prime Minister Hon. James Marape on Tuesday, March 4, 2025.
The meeting, held in Port Moresby, brought together key ministers, including Minister for Coffee Hon. William Bando, Minister for Livestock Hon. Sekie Agisa, and Minister for Oil Palm Hon. Francis Maneke, along with their respective agency heads. The discussions focused on the Department of Agriculture and Livestock’s (NDAL) achievements in 2024, major challenges faced, and strategic priorities for 2025 aimed at revitalising the sector as a key pillar of economic growth and food security in Papua New Guinea.
Minister Boito’s presentation outlined NDAL’s key result areas (KRAs) as part of the Medium-Term Development Plan IV (MTDP IV), with a strong emphasis on:
✅ Governance and Policy Leadership – Strengthening agricultural policies and oversight.
✅ Sector Coordination and Investment Promotion – Enhancing partnerships with foreign and domestic investors to boost commercial agriculture.
✅ Financial Oversight and Budget Management – Ensuring effective resource allocation for maximum impact.
“Despite facing budgetary and operational constraints in 2024, we have made significant strides in reforming the agriculture sector. Through strengthened policies, strategic investments, and sector-wide coordination, we are paving the way for sustainable growth,” Minister Boito stated.
Minister Boito provided an overview of major accomplishments in 2024, which include:
1. Strengthening Policy & Strategic Planning
• Successfully launched the National Agriculture Sector Plan (NASP) 2024-2033 and the NDAL Corporate Plan 2024-2028 to guide sector growth.
• Advanced the review of the National Agriculture Administration (NAA) Bill, which is now in its final legislative stages.
• Developed the Rice Import Replacement Strategy, aimed at reducing dependence on imported rice by increasing local production.
• Progressed the formulation of the Spice Industry Policy 2025-2030 to boost the high-value spice sector.
2. Securing External Partnerships & Investment
• US$60 million secured from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to develop fresh food systems and market infrastructure.
• US$350 million funding negotiations with the World Bank’s PACD Project for 2026, targeting rural agricultural development and productivity improvements.
• Represented PNG at the FAO Global Investor Forum (Rome), advocating for downstream agricultural processing and value-added exports.
• Extended the IFAD-funded ‘Market Bilong Vilis Fama’ fresh produce project for an additional two years.
3. Enhancing Accountability & Collaboration
• Completed a full financial audit of NDAL in 2024 to strengthen governance and accountability.
• Launched the Agriculture Management Information System (AMIS) to streamline data collection and improve transparency.
• Conducted nationwide consultations to enhance sector agency performance and budget alignment.
4. Boosting Commodity Yields & Domestic Market Growth
• Coffee production grew by 10% annually since 2021, driven by farmer support programme and improved processing techniques.
• Cocoa production saw a 3% annual increase since 2019, solidifying PNG’s position as a high-quality cocoa exporter.
• Implemented pilot programs for potato, bulb onion, and citrus production, supporting domestic import replacement initiatives.
Despite these achievements, Minister Boito acknowledged ongoing challenges, including budget limitations, logistics constraints, and market access issues that continue to affect agricultural expansion.
Minister Boito outlined an ambitious roadmap for 2025, focusing on fully implementing NASP and strengthening governance and investment. Key strategic priorities include:
1. Implementing NASP & Strengthening Institutional Frameworks
• NDAL’s corporate restructuring to enhance efficiency, with Phase 1 completion by December 2025.
• Establishing the NASP Implementing Secretariat by Q1 2025 to oversee national agricultural projects.
• Passing the Agriculture Investment Corporation (AIC) Bill, which will facilitate investment opportunities for commercial farming.
• Hosting the first-ever National Agriculture Industry Public-Private Sector Partnership Conference in Lae from April 7-11, 2025, bringing together government, private sector, and development partners.
2. Strengthening Sector Coordination & Investment Promotion
• Re-establishing the National Agriculture Council (NAC) to oversee governance in the sector.
• Collaborating with provincial and district authorities to revive District Resource Centres, ensuring better service delivery to farmers.
• Finalising a Host Country Agreement (HCA) with the FAO by June 2025 to strengthen international cooperation in agricultural development.
3. Combating Pests & Strengthening Biosecurity
• National response strategy for Coffee Berry Borer (CBB) infestations, which threaten PNG’s K500 million coffee industry.
• Implementing biosecurity measures to monitor agricultural imports and exports, ensuring compliance with global standards.
• Enhancing agriculture land inventory and management to optimize state land utilisation.
4. Policy and Legislative Reforms
• Removing import duty (tax) on agriculture inputs to lower production costs for farmers.
• Reviewing key policies, including:
✅ Food Security Policy
✅ Rice and Grain Policy
✅ Agricultural Digitalisation Policy
✅ Fresh Produce Policy
• Promoting Women in Agriculture initiatives, in collaboration with EU and FAO, to increase female participation in farming enterprises.
Prime Minister Hon. James Marape commended Minister Boito and the agriculture leadership team for their dedication to transforming the sector. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to agriculture as a primary driver of economic growth, employment, and food security.
“Agriculture is the backbone of our economy, and we must harness its full potential to create wealth for our people. We will continue to support policies and investments that empower our farmers, reduce import dependency, and strengthen national food security,” said Prime Minister Marape.
The meeting concluded with commitments from all ministers and agency heads to collaborate on accelerating the implementation of key agriculture initiatives that will drive sustainable growth and economic transformation in Papua New Guinea.
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