Country policy profile for Papua New Guinea forwards sustainable agriculture development

Abstract

The agriculture sector remains the main stay of PNG¡¦ economy especially he we rural economy. While significant pockets of pure subsistence griculture do exist, the livelihood of the majority of the rural population is ;upported by semi-subsistence agriculture which comprises traditional ;ubsistence gardens that provide the basic needs for the family and small-scale ommercia1 agriculture that provides the family with cash income. In terms of ts direct impacts at the livelihoods of the majority of Pupua New Guinea, ;emi-subsistence agriculture is the most important economic sector. It sustains he livelihood of the 85% of the population of the 5.1 million people residing in ural areas and engaged in a mixture of cash cropping and subsistence igriculture. About 983,767 households are engaged in foodlroot crops and vegetables, livestock, fishing, coffee, coconut, coco oil and rubber. Agriculture Dontributes about 25% to the GDP and about 29% of the population is food Donsumers as based on the 1996/98 survey data which is increase of 3% over the period of 1990/92 period (FAO,2000) which classified PNG an a low income deficit by FAQ 1996. Poverty and rural development are critical issues being identified for policy adjustment in addressing sustainable agriculture development in the country. Theses areas are clearly reflected in the governments MTDS 2003-2007 including expansion and diversification of the sectors, poverty alleviation and food security. Some problems that contribute towards effective implementation of the policies are; lack of constitutional policy capacity within the government system, inadequate linkage and integration with various stockholders, poor agriculture extensions service, marker, information, poor resources allocation, inadequate research capacity, poor and adequate skilled manpower, poor infrastructure and poor access to credit has hampered the progress of agriculture and rural development.