Oil prices continue their rise but LNG prices have eased. Cocoa and palm oil prices are slightly stronger. Business Advantage PNG’s monthly overview of commodity and financial markets.
Agribusiness
With the focus on major resources projects, Papua New Guinea is missing the opportunity to develop a thriving agri-tourism sector, Papua New Guinea Women in Agricultural Development Foundation (PNGWiADF) President, Maria Linibi tells Business Advantage PNG.
The long commodity bear market is coming to an end, according to Richard Yetsenga, Chief Economist for the ANZ Banking Group. He also observes that, in a world growing more sceptical about globalisation, there is growing competition for foreign direct investment.
It may not have involved rocket science, but Hargy Oil Palms Ltd has experienced significant success in boosting palm oil yields in West New Britain. But Chief Executive Graham King believes the success of agriculture in PNG will ultimately depend on secure land tenure and foreign investment.
The commercial potential of PNG’s galip nut could soon be realised. Helen Wallace, Project Leader at the Transformative Agriculture and Enterprise Development program tells Business Advantage PNG that the strong growth in the nut industry indicates it is the right time to develop the sector.
The CEO of Mainland Holdings wants a national register of landowners willing to lease their land or grow crops on their property. David Alcock has also outlined his company’s plans to boost feedstock for poultry and pigs, to reduce costs and save foreign exchang
Papua New Guinea’s cocoa industry could be back to its 1970s levels if it had a strong cocoa grower-based Cocoa Board, more farmer training and increased investment. That is what John Nightingale, Managing Director of Agmark, told the country’s first-ever agricultural summit, held in Port Moresby last month.
Oil and gas prices are up and copper is also strong. Business Advantage PNG’s monthly review of Papua New Guinea commodities and financial markets comes to you from this week’s PNG Mining and Petroleum Conference in Port Moresby.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and his Agriculture Minister, Benny Allen, have promised to boost access to credit for agricultural projects, develop import substitution and strengthen agricultural institutions. They were addressing the country’s inaugural National Agriculture Summit in Port Moresby this week.
There are compelling reasons to boost Papua New Guinea’s agriculture sector, according to two executives in Innovative Agro Industry. It can reduce reliance on imports and provide jobs to a country full of dedicated farmers.