Monday, January 23, 2012

Team to assess K5 billion rice project

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

A STATE negotiating team will assess the K5 billion Central province commercial rice project that will see Papua New Guinea produce rice on a larger scale, The National reports.
Agriculture Minister Sir Puka Temu told parliament last Friday that the Central commercial rice project was initiated by the former Somare government under the leadership of Ano Pala.
The project is valued between K3 billion and K5 billion.
 “As far as the injection of capital is concerned, it covers 60,000 to 100,000ha of land which will be the first of its kind in the country.
“For the past 30 to 35 years no investor has put his hand up to invest this kind of capital in commercial rice production,” Sir Puka said.
He said commercial rice production was a high risk low yield area and this would be the first time an investor was looking into this possibility.
“The challenges are there and the previous and the current government are assessing particular deed of agreement.”
Sir Puka expressed disappointment at the sector for jumping up and down, including taking out a full-page advertisement.
“I do not know where they are coming from. Issues raised through the media are that the proposal is anti-trade.”
Sir Puka said there was an assumption that the price would increase but the government was looking at that among other issues.
He said the exclusivity of the import of rice for a specific period was under negotiations.
Sir Puka said the state negotiating team comprised Treasury and Finance, National Planning, Internal Revenue Commission, Environment and Conservation, ICCC and Lands and Physical Planning.
“Some people are putting the cart before the horse but, at the end of the day, national interest must come first.”
He said for commercial rice production, “PNG does not have land and the single biggest land available is in the Kairuku-Hiri area where landowners and leaders have agreed to venture into this project”.
“Rice must be exported and become cheaper. The long term gains negate the short term pains,” Sir Puka said.
He said the Trukai agreement would be reviewed this month and the government hoped to come with a win-win situation for all parties.

1 comment:

  1. Anonymous4:53 PM

    I do not know who has been feeding crap to Sir Puka Temu that ...."where landowners and leaders have agreed to venture into this project”.

    Sir Puka, fortunately for our people, we have some educated elite who have gone through the proposals for our land to be used and frankly it is a shit deal. So, we are not going to sign..full stop.

    We know you have your cronies out there trying to "convince" the villagers but I can tell you that it is a complete waste of time. For their safety's sake I suggest they try their luck elsewhere.

    If you looking to get a quick buck from these "investors" to fund your re-election campaign you can send them to your electorate to grow rice because you are never going to grow it in Kairuku Hiri.

    No matter how much money is dished out to "bribe" our people that rice project is not gonna happen, not in Kairuku Hiri anyway.

    And just a word of warning, do not try to bulldoze any acts of parliament to have your way because it will only end up in unrest and bloodshed that will be on your hands.

    Go try your bullshit in your own electorate.

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