Tomscoll opens PNG Market on Bulb Onion, uncooked poultry

PNG Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Honourable Assik Tommy Tomscoll 

has thanked everyone for the raging debate on the import ban on fresh produce that has come about because of his initiative to ban fresh produce and then partially lift it for three vegetables.

Minister Tomscoll said:

“Agriculture means food and health for all of us, income for PNG’s rural-based majority and business revenues(profitsand tax contributions to Government) for many stakeholders including those who are fueling the recent debate.

I welcome all who have contributed to this debate on this sector that is without doubt the real ‘backbone of PNG’s economy’.Salient points have been noted and will help inform the National Agriculture Plan and the National Agriculture Standards System that will follow the draft agriculture umbrella legislations – the Agriculture Administration Adjustment bill and the Agriculture Investment Corporation bill.

I also want to thank the Prime Minister Honourable Peter O’Neill for his support of my initiative on the vegetable ban based on biosecurity for our flora and fauna (plants and animal products) – which in agriculture terms is protecting our fresh produce, cash crops and livestock from foreign pests and diseases.

As State Minister responsible for agriculture, I have spoken to PM O’Neill and agreed to partly and temporarily lift the import banfor next the three months in line with the numerous calls by individuals, entities and Members of Opposition.

Effective from gazettal early next week, the ban on bulb onion- and uncooked poultry - will be lifted to allow for open market and competition for three months.

In line with calls by former Attorney General and Member for Sinasina-Yongamogl Honourable Kerenga Kua, I have lifted ban on bulb onion produce will be thrown open. Wholesalers and Retailers – foreign-owned and locally-owned – can then import bulb onions and other fresh food at will from Australia, New Zealand, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia and we’ll let the market dictate prices.

Current estimation of landed cost in Port Moresby for onions from Chimbu is K6 per kg; K4 per kg from Australian and New Zealand; and up to K1 per kg from China. Competition can determine the price of onion between importers and local producers.”

Mr Tomscoll added:

“I am also heeding Opposition Leader Don Polye (Kandep MP) reference of “economic illiteracy”and his Deputy Leader Sam Basil(Bulolo)’ssupport of business houses calls for my sacking as Agriculture Minister to also lift the ban on uncooked poultry from Australia. Iwill open up the poultry market –not just to Australia and New Zealand -but also to China, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines and Indonesia for the next three months.

This should result in poultry products selling at very low price, a call supported also by supermarkets and the various commerce chambers’ executives.

Mr Tomscoll said that the import ban outcry – using consumers’ name – has been to for access to food products at the best possible (lowest)prices through open competition.

“Since monopoly is a concern I am therefore lifting the bans on imports allowingall food products from all these countries to compete in the PNG market. This will allow for real market price to dictate through this competition on the same product from different countries,” he said.

“In the past, consumers had limited choice from PNG, Australia and New Zealand. They will now have the same produce from nearly ten different country sources.

“Finally, the overdue select country monopoly is now removed – and consumers will be able to enjoy lower prices,” Minister Tomscoll said.