Wise Move! Papua New Guinea Taps Filipinos In Food Sufficiency

Port Moresby – Papua New Guinea, a country with only 10 million people and a land area of 46.2-million hectares, has launched a Food Self-Sufficiency Program with the help of farming experts from the Philippines and the U.S.
Yesterday, I led a composite team of Filipinos and Americans which was invited by the PNG Government for a 4-day exposure to the agricultural potentials of the country.
Among the exploration areas are Rice Farming, Poultry and the growing of Corn and Sorghum.
The main interest of the PNG Government, however, is the development of the rice farming industry because the country imports some 400,000-metric tons of rice every year.
The government of PNG Prime Minister James Marape is aiming for an “Import Substitution” Program to reduce the country’s dependence on imported food.
International Trade Minister Richard Maru who arranged the visit of the team said that following the successful trials conducted in 2015 and 2018 by Filipino rice experts showing high yields of over 8 metric tons per hectare, the PNG government will now invest in rice production in partnership with Filipino groups.
Joining me in the team are Joel Chan, President/CEO, Grains Innovations Corp., Ariel Potot, Chief Finance Officer, GRAINSCO, Joemel Fresco, Technical Consultant, GRAINSCO, Dr. Frisco Malabanan, Vice President SL Agritech Hybrid Rice Seeds, Engr. Danilo Arcales Bolos, Most Outstanding Rice Farmer of the Philippines, Rocky French, Filipino-American Farmer-Scientist, Aquaculturist, Engr. Moses Khuu, American Engineer and Solar-Powered Irrigation Advocate, and Roselyn Parillo.
The Philippine delegation was welcomed last night by government Ministers with a dinner party.
Today, the team visits Central Province, the proposed rice plantation site.
Later this afternoon, Prime Minister Marape will receive the delegation in his office.
#ButiPaPNGAlam!
#FoodSelfSufficiency!
(Photos of last night’s welcome dinner taken by Roselyn Parillo.)