News and Public Notices

Our Ministry is responsible for overseeing and developing the sectors that are vital to our food security, economic diversification, environmental protection and social well- being.

Mr. Speaker my Ministry supports and stresses the importance of having in place implementable plans, through our completed Corporate Plan aligned and cascaded down from the Bougainville Strategic Development Plan 2018-2022, The Bougainville long Term Vision 2052, the Bougainville Integrated Strategic Development Plan 2023-2027 and the importance of getting things into perspective through the President’s six-point strategy to see the long – term vision, planning and implementation.

The benchmark of having in place appropriate laws and legislations including policies is crucial for a real transformation of our economy and wellbeing of our small population.

I am very happy with the policies that are now in place within my term as the Minister for the DPIMR.

Policies and Plans

1. The DPI Corporate Plan completed and ready to be launched.
2. The Bougainville Food Security Policy (BFSP) 2022-2035 launched in July 2022
3. The Bougainville Food Security Strategic Development Plan (BFSPSP) will be launched in second quarter 2024
4. The Draft Agriculture Master Plan will be work shopped in second quarter 2024.

The Draft Bougainville Livestock Development Policy is to be finalized in second quarter 2024.

1. The Draft Mud Crab Policy
2. The Draft Sea Cucumber Policy
3. The Draft Fisheries Licensing Policy
4. The Draft Forest Mangrove Policy is also to be work shopped in second quarter 2024.
5. The Draft Balsa Policy has been completed with support from Commerce, Trade Industry funding.
6.  Forest inventory Plans in 2024

With all of this in mind the Ministry and Department of Primary Industries has initiated a range of high impact projects over the last two to three years and there are still ongoing commitments to ensure these are progressed to the end of 2024 or 2025 which ever precedes.

 Key Projects

1. Operationalization of BACRA activities through the establishment of the BACRA Advisory Council. By June all cocoa should be directly exported out of Bougainville.
2. The proposed Construction of a cocoa powder factory at Toniva, Kieta and a BACRA staff House construction project.
3. An Eight (8) room building being constructed at the Konga DPI station is underway.
4. A New Office for Konga DPI station is completed awaiting fencing needs.
5. Maintenance of DPI stations in Buin and Konga (Ongoing) in collaboration with the Department of Technical Services
6. Maintenance of the old CCI office at Kubu, to accommodate the new KIK office and construction of a staff house
7. The continuation of the Bougainville Coconut Industry re-development Project.
8. The Proposed Joint venture partnership with Nissan Community Government for vessel purchase in 2024.
9. The Buka Pristine Mill joint venture arrangement with New Britain Palm Oil (NBPOL), we have been working on for a production sharing partnership and eventual acquisition. (A draft BEC submission is being prepared)
10. Completion of one staff House at Buka Town (Katsinkuri)
11. There are plans underway for us to collaborate with DLPP &EC with Blue-Green economy projects.
12. Mr. Speaker, Last but not the least I would like to announce that the DPI Ministry and Department has tentatively nominated Buin as the venue for our Annual Chocolate Festival, this being in line with our intention of the venue be distributed equitably among the regions, but I would like to invite our leaders in this Honourable house to offer their thoughts with this matter. I would also kindly request that our Constituencies consider some form of budget support for this very important event which is so motivating for our Rural communities engaged in the Cocoa Industry.

These are some of the key Infrastructure and collaboration project initiatives that my Department gives priority as they are the lowest hanging fruit ready for harvest for gain by our government and our people. This is made possible with the current cordial relationships and partnerships forged with all stakeholders locally and domestically to counteract capacity issues faced on a  daily basis.

The Commodity Support Facility (CSF)

This a grants scheme delivered through the Bougainville Partnerships (BP) to foster agriculture and economic development in Bougainville. CSF grants to cocoa farmer groups aims to support farmers increase quality, improve quality, and gain better market access. Between 2017 and 2020 the BP provided grants to 25 farmer groups to the value of approximately PGK10.4 million. In late-2020 the BP confirmed grants totalling up to PGK 10.4 million for another 25 new cocoa farmer groups.

1. Summary of CSF Cocoa Grants Outputs

By June 2024 the CSF Cocoa Grants would have delivered the following to 50 Cocoa Farmer Groups:

• Training of 2,570 farmers on Integrated Pest & Disease Management (IPDM) in best cocoa block management, harvesting and processing.
• Training of 100 farmers from 50 groups with Cocoa Quality and Assessor Training from the Cocoa Board & DPI.
• Distribution of over 600,000 clonal seedlings.
• Construction of 17 solar/kiln combination driers.
• Renovation and/or construction of over 200 conventional driers.
• Construction of more than 35 project offices and storage sheds.
• Distribution of 35 tractors and training on Tractors Acceptable User Policy to farmer groups.
• Distribution of 15,822 cocoa farming tools as per grantees required tools list (tools include bowsaw, knapsack, sprayer, drain spades, wheelbarrows, assorted gumboots, chainsaws, secateurs, pole pruners).
• Distribution of 5,028 bags/packets/litres of pesticides, weedicides, and fertilizers as per project recipients list (fertilizers include NPK,/Urea, while chemicals distributed were, Binatox  Fentox Raunap, and  Karate).

 

BACRA Update

The following are some of our progress updates on the key outputs, milestones, and challenges for BACRA in the last quarter of 2023 to the first quarter 2024:

1. Consultation with CBPNG regarding the implementation of the Joint MOA signed in October of 2022. More 90% of the MOA has been achieved.  A few of the outstanding responsibilities are; securing land to for establishment of cocoa germ plasm and a seed garden, Additional Cocoa Training for BACRA officers, sales contracts for Bougainville cocoa.

Awareness and inspection for implementing the cocoa regulations was initiated in October 2023 throughout North Central and South.  Areas yet to be visited will be visited when funds become available.

 

Fermentary inspections and licensing is now taken over by DPI-BACRA. Information Brochures, Inspection forms, Application forms, and License certificates have been printed.

2.         An online data collection toolbox) is now established linked to the main IT system server in BACRA office at Kubu for online registrations, license applications and any other necessary data collection.

3.         A BACRA trust Account has been created for remittance of 70% of the export levy fees and is now ready for the funds to be accessed for BACRA operation. To date the BACRA Trust Account has K445,803.05 and is yet to be utilized, pending the Finance Departments stringent requirements being met.

4.         Names of compliance officer/BACRA officers appointed by DPI for commencing operationalization of BACRA were published in a gazettal notice

5.         The activities to develop the Cocoa Seed Garden in Konga DPI station commenced in November last year.  The Department is commencing with 5 hectare (ha) of land to propagate some potential cocoa varieties in Bougainville.  These clones will be further studied, hopefully, resulting in superior Bougainville clones.

6.         New and bigger machines and equipment purchased from USA 2 years ago finally arrived in December last year.  Research on improving products is ongoing and production of different products have now resulted in 3 products, the chocolate, cocoa butter oil and the cocoa powder to be certified, through packaging, branding, and patenting with compliances to ISO and HACCP standards.

 With bigger capacity and using the new machines and equipment, wider research can be done. Although the focus of the Lab is on research and development, demand for the products is exceeding 100% plus especially with the cocoa powder.

7-         Officers under BCRA program which are the CBPNG and DPI officers are now gradually taking over the training component and have conducted Cocoa Management Practices and Cocoa Assessors Courses for the CSF recipients and other farmers groups. A total of 142 farmers have received training between September 2023 to March 2024

Mr. Speaker I have also given specific directions to my staff to issue an official notice to all commodity exporters in Bougainville, that by the 1^st of June 2024 all agricultural commodities must have Bougainville as their point of export not ENB, Lae, POM or any other PNG port.

This is my initiative to capture all export levies and taxes due to Bougainville directly and so improve Bougainville’s revenue base, and have buyers identify Bougainville Cocoa received

Mr. Speaker I also would like to inform this Honorable House that specific commodities information to the public and stakeholders will be made available through the media, the “ARoB Komoditi Nius” now into its fourth (4) edition and will be shared through the “ABG bulletin Nius” letter” shortly for public consumption through the ABG Media Directorate.

Coconut Sector

Mr. Speaker the coconut re-development has started slowly due to funding constraints however my Ministry has encouraged full collaborative measures to support those funding gaps by providing much needed funding to implement the coconut programs especially in the North for the coconut plantations concept and seed distribution project.

Coconut is the main cash crop cultivated and grown throughout Bougainville Island, and currently Bougainville is rated as the second highest producer of copra in PNG by KIK.

Mr Speaker, about 80% of the population use coconut to sustain their livelihood, socially and economically. Pre-Regional conflict, Bougainville was the highest producer of copra. The bulk of copra in Bougainville came mainly from plantations. Now these plantations are run down and no longer producing. Small holder coconut farmers are currently the main sustainers of the industry.

1. The major achievements for coconut replanting and seed distribution program in AROB for the 2023 includes;
   1. Increased in the number of Local Tall mother palm confirmed (12, 754 mother palms).
   2. Increased in the number of onsite nurseries established (1,122 onsite nurseries).
   3. Increased in the number of small holder farmers involved in new coconut plantings (340,570 new plantings)
   4. Increased in the number of smallholder farmers involved in new plantings (1,122 farmers)
   5. Large plantations showing interest in redevelopment (Ramunpan, Dewau, Skotalan, Buka District), Banio plantation, Selau/Suir District), Tenakaot and Arikoa, Wakunai District, Aropa, Iwi and Toimanapu, Kieta District).

 

Fisheries and Marine Resources Sector Update:

1.Bougainville Waters Delimitation Survey

The Department of Primary Industry, through the Directorate of Fisheries and Marine Resources has successfully completed phase 1 of the Bougainville Delimitation Exercises. I take this time to thank all Departments and Stakeholders who have supported this program which was facilitated by the South Pacific Commission (SPC) with the Support of National Fisheries Authority.

 

All data and information collected over the two weeks survey that was done in October of 2023 is being assessed by the Technical Team at SPC. There is continuous collaboration and engagement with our Fisheries Directorate for further work streams.

 

1. Seaweed Support to Local Economy

The Fisheries and Marine Resources Directorate continues it work of supporting rural and island economic growth. Seaweed Export and Facility licenses were granted to Happy Sound Ltd, late November, 2023.

Over the past three months, Seaweed production based on purchased has reached 59 tonnes.These purchases were mainly from Caterets and Nissan farmers.With the purchase price at K3 per Kilo, our hardworking fisher men and women have received around K177,000.00. Caterets alone accounted for three quarters of the seaweed receipts from this first purchase.

There is growing interest in this fishery and my officers are now conducting extension visits to Caterets and Nissan.

 

1. Bougainville Aquaculture Baseline Survey

Development of a Bougainville Aquaculture Policy hinges on evidence-based information, hence the conduct of the third phase of the Bougainville Aquaculture Baseline Survey is currently underway in North Bougainville.

Aquaculture is the farming, rearing and harvesting of fish, shellfish and other aquatic species in all types of environmental water. In our case, we mainly have fish ponds in the rural districts.

This policy, when developed will support work on Food Security and income safety nets of our local farmers in the Region. This fishery has great opportunities to support fiscal self-reliance in the rural economy.

 

1. Fisheries Enabling Infrastructure

Completion of two (2) Fisheries staff Housing at Tinputz District

The Construction of Fisheries infrastructure (2 in 1 Classroom) in Tinputz District

The construction of the Fisheries Office Complex at the Buka

town water front

The proposed construction of the Vessel Tracking system at Sohano in 2024.

The proposed Construction of the Fisheries warehouse at Kubu, CCI in 2024.

 

1. Stakeholder Liaison and Support

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform this honourable house of the strong and positive working relationship the Department of Primary Industry and Marine Resources has with its stakeholders. Most importantly, the National Fisheries Authority. The successful meeting in Solomon Islands with Foreign Fisheries Agency (FFA) for proposed support for Bougainville especially with Revenue sharing based on Vessel days (VDS), Licensing and other potential fisheries developments within Bougainville.

 

Not only has this relationship supported the Ministry and Department in the development of the Fisheries and Marine Sector in the Region, but it has supported the Government as whole.

Late November, 2022, from the allocation of K5 million from NFA, K3 million was paid out of the Fisheries Trust Fund Account to support the ABG consolidated Revenue. In 2023, late November, another K 5 million was presented to support the Fisheries Sector development in the Region. Again, without the consent of my Ministry and Department, K2.5 million has been appropriated to fund development programs under the Development Budget, for the year, 2024.

      All these funds are guided by the MOU that the Department has with the NFA, outlining areas of   support and joint coordination.

Mr. Speaker there are also other outstanding commitments by the Ministry earmarked for 2024.Which includes a range of ongoing partnership agreements (MOA’s) to enter or re-enter into.

1. The Forestry MOA (2016 last entered)
2. PNG Cocoa board (re-enter into)
3. NFA (re-enter into) last entered 2021
4. NDAL (re-enter into)/ last entered 2011
5. Coffee Industries Corporation (CIC) (new)
6. KIK (re-view and re-enter into)/ last entered 2019

Mr. Speaker all of these Cooperation frameworks do have specific activities that require counterpart funding implications for the ABG.  As far as I can see we have not given specific attention to this fact in the 2024 ABG Budget not only to DPI but other Departments.

Mr. Speaker finally, but not the least of our priorities is to support coastal fisheries accessibility to markets by improving shipping services in the region. My department, in partnership with the Community Government and the people of Nissan Constituency have embarked on a program which includes the purchase of a vessel to enable transportation of marine products, cargoes and other commodities to facilitate investment and trade opportunities within the region.

Please allow me to warn that we should not repeat mistakes from the past of going on luxurious shopping excursions only to end up with sub-standard vessels that quickly become liabilities.

Mr. Speaker, finally let me take this opportunity to thank all colleague Members of this Honorable House their support one way or another to be part of our successes and achievements in 2023 and we look forward to a prosperous 2024 and beyond.

The road has not been easy and to say it’s getting easier would be a denial of the challenges ahead to build our new country while leaving “no-one behind” my conviction is “every step counts” and this is the guiding principal for my Ministry.

May God continue to Bless us all as we continue to endeavor all our efforts towards our march to self-determination and Sovereignty.   

 

HON. GERALDINE PAUL, MHR
MINISTER FOR PRIMARY INDUSTRIES 
Member for Central Bougainville Women 

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