Agriculture is PNG’s only hope

But agriculture has suffered worst of all.

The decentralisation of services to provinces has just not worked. It has just added another massive level of bureaucracy and red tape to the export sectors in particular.

There is no real incentive for the 80 per cent rural majority to improve crop quality or plant new crops.

As a result, people have become subsistence farmers, growing just the food they need.

What is needed is for PNG and its friends is to get serious about incentives, not gimmicks. They may include fertiliser subsidies and transport and freight support.

The government might subsidise school leavers who want to return to their home province and get into agricultural production.

It needs a large package of measures. And it needs them urgently.

It could build new agricultural colleges to provide skill development programs. It might give farming a higher role in its schools.

I don't think the nation's politicians really understand how serious the problem is.

They are discovering that the total population is actually closer to 12 million not the official figure of 8-9 million.

All that means is the problem is worse than ever. While subsistence farming has a role it is no substitute for the production of export crops.

PNG is headed for a social disaster that might cause serious law and order problems sooner rather than later.