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Agriculture

Fijian Prime Minister and Delegates’ Visit Ilimo Farm

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Fijian Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka in his recent visit to PNG, was given the opportunity to visit the Innovative Agro Industry’s farms over the weekend.

The Prime Minister and his delegates began their tour at the Ilimo Dairy Farm at 14 mile, outside of Port Moresby.

They were given a tour of the milking parlor and the production facility, where they witnessed first-hand the different processes of producing milk and other Ilimo products.

The Fijian Delegates ended their tour at the 9 mile vegetable farm.

They had the opportunity to visit the green houses, where various vegetables are grown, including the advanced drip irrigation and climate control systems.

The Prime Minister was impressed with the tour, saying it was an eye opener for them.

“I am sure the official delegation will take back with them a lot from this visit, and try to incorporate them into the Agro Industries at home,” said Prime Minister Rabuka.

The Innovative Agro Industries was first established in 2011, and they are involved in  a wide range of activities such as farming, greenhouses, poultry and dairy.

AIA Executive Director, Ilan Weiss said the visit is an opportunity for them to showcase the progress and advancement in the fields of agriculture and food production.

“It is always an honor for us to show dignitaries visiting the country, what we do. We took a lot of pride in what we do, and there’s a lot of passion put into our work.

“It is agriculture, it is a long term investment.” The Executive Director said.

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Business

Rigo rice supports domestic rice demand

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Papua New Guinea, is one of the biggest consumers of rice, but doesn’t have the capacity to supply its demand.

Rigo Rice Managing Director Jeffery Kennedy in his presentation, during the Special Economic Zone Summit, said PNG imports more rice to feed its local demand.

“In PNG we are looking at 99.9% imports of rice, just to feed our local demand,” the Managing Director said.

“With the current global trends, this puts PNG in a very vulnerable spot, in terms of food security.”

Rigo Rice is one of the biggest rice projects in the Central Province and has been operational for more than five years.

In addition, they have invested more than K10 million to build a solid rice business.

They are also supporting local farmers to grow rice, and sell to them.

The Managing Director said, to ensure it continues to grow and meet domestic demands, this project will need the support of all stake holders including the government.

“Government has a very important role to play in rice farming and production when it comes to ensuring food security as an aspect of National security,” Kennedy said.

Minister of International Trade and Investment Richard Maru responded positively, saying the government is ready to give its support.

He said Rigo Rice deserves government support and recognition because they have earned the right to be supported.

Maru further added that the company already has a well established farm which needs to be expanded from 250 hectares to 6000 hectares.

“The government will assess Rigo Rice, and if we are convinced that Rigo Rice deserve our support because it is going to be profitable and sustainable, and all it needs is capital to buy machines, we will invest as an investor, as a joint venture partner, Maru explained.

He said Rigo Rice have also offered to assist the government, by helping other provinces and districts to set up commercial rice farms.

Rigo Rice is one of six projects that will be given Special Economic Zone License by the government this year.

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News

NEW PORGERA AGREEMENT

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The Independent State of Papua New Guinea, Barrick Niugini Limited and New Porgera Limited has signed an agreement to progress with the operations of the mine.

The New Porgera Progress Agreement signed on Friday confirms that all parties are committed to reopening the mine at the earliest opportunity.

The signing ceremony at the government house was witnessed by Prime Minister James Marape, Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso, Barrick Gold CEO Mark Bristow, ministers of the state, and other stake holders.

After the signing Ceremony, Prime Minister James Marape addressed the media, saying this is a huge step closer to the reopening of the Porgera mine.

The Prime Minster further shared his appreciation to the State Negotiation Team and all stake holders for their patience, and hard work behind the scene, which allowed them to go through the due processes.

Marape said there has been a lot of delay in the processes, however these are all steps to ensure the new porgera is a fruitful venture.

Barrick CEO Mark Bristow further explained that the next steps are to transfer the exploration license from old Porgera to new Porgera, and make the application for the special Mining license, and that will open the doors to starting up the mine.

“We have a number of people to employ between now and the startup. We have started, and we will continue to employ people.” Bristow said.

He said they are committed to start producing gold within this year.

The CEO also appealed to the people of Porgera to end all violence and work together for a better place in Enga province.

Under the New Porgera agreement, economic benefits will be shared 53% by the PNG stakeholders and 47% by Barrick Niugini Limited.

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Agriculture

Mama Bank Assists Local Farmers

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Women vegetable growers in Wau, Morobe Province have received two new walk-behind tractors.

Under an Agriculture, Value Chain Finance (AVCF) product tailored by the Women’s Micro Bank Limited (Mama Bank), Produce Distributer NKW Fresh, and the Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative (PSDI), the product aims at assisting small-scale farmers with financial needs.

Mama Bank CEO, Gunanidhi Das said farmers play a significant role in supplying PNG Markets with fresh produce and most importantly generate an income to support their families.

However, they are restricted to financial institutions to acquire funding to improve their productivity.

“Mama Bank is glad to empower and build the financial capacity of PNG farmers through easier access to credit facilities, and I thank NKW Fresh and PSDI for this great partnership,” said Das.  

Under the AVCF product, farmers can obtain finance to improve their income generation activities. The AVCF product will also identify areas in the sector that needs to improve.

With the walk-behind tractors, 15 women farmers are now set to benefit fully from this initiative.

“PSDI is pleased to support an important initiative and innovating financial solution,” PSDI Growth Specialist Jeremy Cleaver said.

Furthermore, NKW Fresh General Manager David Stewart said a farmer using machines like the walk-behind tractor can cultivate land four times more than the use of traditional tools like spades and forks.  

He added the increased productivity can provide a small-scale farmer with an annual income between K45,000 and K75,000.

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Sport

SP Brewery Snags Plate in Corporate Bowling

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South Pacific Brewery had an impressive finish during the recently held Corporate Bowls challenge by claiming the Plate shield.

SP Brewery beat an experienced Lae Medical Services side, 18 points to 6 to claim the title.

The team attributed the victory to the spirit of “brewing the joy of true togetherness”.

“We played as a team and our team spirit was always on point therefore, we won despite being a newcomer to the competition,” says SPB staff and player Nellie Sikat.

“Almost every one of us on the team did not know much about bowling, but we gradually learn in the process of playing.”

A total of 16 corporate companies participated in the seven week challenge.

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Business

Tari-Pori District Invests K1mil for Women in Business

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Women in Business is a focus for the Tari-Pori District in the next 5 years.

Taking steps to help women in the district, the Tari-Pori DDA presented K1million to the Women’s Micro Bank in Port Moresby recently.

DDA CEO Willie Kara said the district focused mainly on Health, Education and Infrastructure, however for this year, local Member and Prime Minister James Marape opted for Women in Business as a priority.

“Our DSIP is broken into 9 main sectors – health, education and infrastructure development are our main sectors. For this year, we want to see women in business, and this program will help us see if our women can venture into business,” Kara said.

The Women’s Micro Bank since its establishment has been helping women in the country in business. They’ve partnered with 5 Districts and 1 Provincial Government to bring about training for women who want to venture into the SME space as well as providing the financial means for women to start their own businesses.

“The Bank is women orientated. We want to create financial inclusion for our women. The Bank is here to create that conducive environment for women to grow their businesses,” Bank CEO Gunanidhi Das said.

The K1million funding will be used for training programs as well as capital for women groups in Tari-Pori to use.

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Business

Nasfund Opens Flagship Branches

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The National Superannuation Fund, Nasfund, yesterday officially opened two new-look Member
Service Centres in Port Moresby, to its branch network, witnessed by Nasfund Directors, Executive Management, Staff, and members.

Speaking at the occasion, Nasfund Chief Executive Officer Ian Tarutia reaffirmed the
Fund’s commitment to continually improving its service to members.

“The Waigani Member Service Centre is our new flagship branch, as it provides members
with the full array of services that the Fund provides,” Tarutia said.

The new-look facility is the largest service centre out of our 21 branches throughout
the country, having 10 counters, two meeting rooms, and can accommodate over 70
members at any one time.

The two new-look facilities are part of member-focused developments by Nasfund.

This follows the opening of Nasfund’s second member service centre in Lae, Morobe Province,
along with the movement of the Alotau Member Service Centre to a new location, last week.

Nasfund also has online electronic services including a Call Centre, Member Online Portal, Mobile Phone App, and Mobile SMS facilities.

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Business

Stop Waiting says, Local Business Owner

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As the country celebrated 47 years of independence, Jacob Kaupa, the owner and managing director of one of the country’s most successful companies has called on every citizen to stop waiting for free handouts from the government.

Kaupa runs the Pacific Corporate Security Limited (PCSL), one of the biggest security companies in the country with over a thousand employees in 7 provinces.

The private businessman started his business in 1997 however it took him almost 4 years to grow the company to what it is today.

Speaking during the company’s independence celebration in Port Moresby, Kaupa bluntly asked why many Papua New Guineans are still waiting for politicians for free handouts.

“Can we depend on the government and our elected leaders to solve our problems? We have waited for 47 years and are still waiting. How long can we wait for the government to create an enabling environment for citizens,” Kaupa said.

He shared from his experiences that nothing is free and in order to better ourselves, we have to do things ourselves.

“Use your employment as a transition point into starting your SME. You can do this by developing a savings culture, even if it means saying no and postponing cultural obligations,”

“Diversify your investment, pay off your debt and stop living on borrowed money. Learn how to budget and live within your means,” Kaupa said.

He said the right formula to be successful in these areas is to surround yourself with the right people.

“Spend more time with people who will add value to your life. Spend more time with people who will encourage you to achieve your dreams. I have tried it and it worked and I am sure it will work for you,” Kaupa said.

Mr Kaupa (left) was presented the 2022 Divine Word University Alumni of the Year Award. Picture – PCS Facebook Page
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Business

PNG Opens Seafood Facility in Singapore

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Papua New Guinea has opened its first-ever seafood holding facility in Singapore.

Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister, Jelta Wong was in Singapore today (15th September) to officially open the facility and described it as a great opportunity for the country to benefit.

“The future looks promising already and I must congratulate NFA for the foresight in putting together and supporting this innovative marketing arrangement,”

“I commend the NFA for finding and creating new and greater market opportunities for our people to access and benefit from,” Minister Wong said.

As PNG looks on to benefit from the growing Asian Market, Minister Wong said the Government is focused on strengthening trade and investment by working closely with foreign missions and development partners in the region.
“What we have done here in Singapore is to look at tapping the massive Chinese seafood market that PNG already has a fisheries market access agreement with,” said the Minister.

The facility will receive and store live mud crabs, lobsters, prawns and other inshore coastal fisheries products before they can be sold or distributed to buyers and retailers in Singapore and the neighbouring South-East Asian markets.

Local fisheries farms like the recently opened mud crab fattening farm in Abau, Central Province and others are targeted to benefit immensely from this initiative.

“It is pleasing to further note that, once the facility goes into full operation, it will be receiving live mud crab and seafood products from our people at the village or community level – such as the live mud crab fattening project that was recently launched in Gavuone village in Abau District,”

“It will also be receiving prawns caught by our village people within the 3mile zone in the Gulf of Papua, including other areas that are now being targeted by the NFA in promoting coastal fisheries development with more and more of our people participating directly,” Minister Wong said.

The demand for seafood was evident when an order of 500kg live mud crab was secured soon after the opening of the Zavath Seafoods facility.

Minister Wong and NFA delegates inspecting the storage facility. Picture by NFA Media
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Agriculture

EU STREIT PROGRAM PARTNERS WITH AGRI-ENTERPRISES

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The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), under EU-STREIT PNG Programme, is collaborating with registered enterprises or cocoa nurseries, to sustainably supply quality cocoa seedlings in the Sepik Region of Papua New Guinea.

Over 30 registered nurseries have signed an agreement with EU STREIT PNG, and they are now distributing pest-tolerant seedlings to potential cocoa producers in the Sepik region.

This partnership is to help increase the production of high-quality cocoa.

It also provides an opportunity for the nursery owners to further nourish in PNG agri-businesses environment, being empowered to engage, provide and meet local demands for cocoa seedlings.

The newly boarded partners have been equipped with nursery set-ups by the Programme that meets PNG Cocoa Board standards.

“National Cocoa Production Officer Michael Lames said they are engaging farmer groups as service providers to deliver seedlings to their members including youths and women.”

“The FAO under the Programme will purchase these seedlings at the rate of K3 and K4 per seedling, including transport cost for distribution of seedlings to targeted farmers and cocoa blocks,” Lames said.

FAO – STREIT Cocoa Production Officer Odrick Urum further explained that payment will be made upon satisfactory completion of deliveries that will be followed by field verification where seedlings are planted into the ground.

“The money will be paid into the groups’ respective bank accounts to support their operation as a business, and for the benefit of their members.”

Wilfred Mombiang who represents a registered farmer group of Saure Village, in Wewak District, expressed gratitude towards this partnership.

“It is an exciting opportunity for us to learn new ideas on how to operate as a service provider, which requires quality delivery on a set time,” Mombiang said.

The Programme has also built the capacity of nursery owners as well as the producers in efficient cocoa cloning, budding and block management.

All these initiatives are part of the EU-STREIT Programme’s broader work plan to strengthen cocoa value chain actors in the Sepik region.

Cocoa farmers signing documents with the EU STREIT Program
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