SCIENCE AND INNOVATION NEEDED TO TRANSFORM AGRICULTURE
By VICKY BAUNKE, Goroka, EHP
AGRICULTURE must move beyond increasing production and focus on quality, processing, markets and investment.
This is the message from Agriculture and Livestock Secretary Dr Sergei Bang.
Speaking at the 8th PNG Research, Science and Technology Conference in Goroka, Dr Bang says greater harvests alone will not solve the challenges facing the agricultural sector.
He says poor storage, transportation and handling can result in food being lost before it reaches the market.
Dr Bang also says exporting raw agricultural products without processing them locally means Papua New Guinea misses out on jobs, income and other economic opportunities.
He says science, research, technology and innovation must help improve productivity, reduce losses and add value to agricultural products within the country.
