Bougainville Food Security Policy launched
Bougainville has achieved a significant milestone when the ABG Department of Primary Industries, Livestock and Marine Resources officially launched the Bougainville Food Security Policy 2022 – 2035 last week.
ABG Minister for Primary Industries Hon Geraldine Paul when officiating at the launching congratulated the Department for creating the policy as it is an important development tool as Bougainville continues on its journey to independence.
“Policies like the Bougainville Food Security Policy 2022 are important development tools; they lay out a pathway and roadmap for tangible development. Such policies help the government to attain globally and locally international sustainable development goals in so far as food security goes,” she said.
The food security policy in alignment with the National Food Security Policy has two main goals which is firstly to contribute to economic development of the country by generating revenue from agricultural commodities, exports, increasing income and generating employment and secondly to make sure that the country is food secure in having sufficient good quality nutritious and healthy food available at all times for consumption.
This policy was created by the ABG Department of Primary Industries, Livestock and Marine Resources with the technical assistance from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) after consulting with the people of Bougainville.
According to the Secretary of the Department Mr. Kenneth Dovaro, the policy is homegrown and in alignment with the National Food Security Policy.
“Food security is everyone’s business as it is fundamental for human beings on earth and this policy is not a standalone policy as it aligns to the National Food Security Policy 2000 – 2010,” he said. “People of Bougainville own the policy and it is homegrown because the people in the region were consulted to gage views to produce this policy to meet the needs of Bougainvilleans.”
Mr. Dovaro further thanked the stakeholders and partners that assisted in putting this policy together, acknowledging the UN FAO for coming at a crucial time to formulate the policy.
Acting Deputy Secretary to the National Department of Agriculture and Livestock Mr. Brown Konabe, speaking on behalf of the National Secretary shared similar sentiments stressing that food security is very important for any country to have to protect the rights of its citizens and congratulated ABG for creating such a policy, making Bougainville the first province in Papua New Guinea to have launched a food security policy at the provincial level.
“This is a historical day for the people of AROB to witness the launching of the inaugural Bougainville Food Security Policy and this is the first Food Security Policy to be launched by any region or province in Papua New Guinea and I want to congratulate the ABG and especially the department under the leadership of the Secretary Mr. Kenneth Dovaro,” he said.
[ Back to News ]
