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Commissioner Moraitis supports agri for development agenda
by Josephine Yaga (01/06/09)
Agriculture should be acknowledged as an agenda for Papua New Guinea’s socio economic development, said Australian High Commissioner to PNG Chris Moraitis.
During a briefing with management and staff of NARI in Lae on May 28 2009, Mr Moraitis applauded the Institute’s agricultural research for development (AR4D) approach which he said could contribute to improving other sectors. He also emphasised the Australian Government’s ongoing support for agricultural research for development.
“Australian Government through the High Commission, AusAID and particularly ACIAR (Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research) are very cognisant of the involvement of agricultural research and agriculture as agenda for development issues,” Mr Moraitis.
“People can acknowledge agriculture as an important agenda for Papua New Guinea’s socio economic development as it covers other agendas of the Government such as law and order, health and education,” he said.
The short occasion was part of the commissioner’s visit to business communities in Madang and Lae in which he made a courtesy call to NARI Head Office at Bubia (10mile) during the Lae leg. He was accompanied by the Australian Trade Commissioner to PNG, John Brand and the Head of AusAID in PNG Bill Costello.
NARI Director General Dr Raghunath Ghodake told the delegation that: “Agriculture must be treated as the agenda for development. Currently that is possibly lacking at the higher level.”
He said agriculture should be the main focus as a renewable sector which is majority dependence, richly resourced, has comperative advantage, self reliance, and supported by emerging worldwide trends.
“Agriculture can manage law and order, take care of health, help educate children, bring peace and harmony, manage and sustain environment and its integrity and bring about overall prosperity for all,” Dr Ghodake said.
The brief visit to NARI HQ was Mr Moraitis’ second. He said the stopover was to register Australian Government’s commitment in working with NARI, both through AusAID and ACIAR with reference to the Institute’s research work.
The team also acknowledged and congratulated NARI has a best practice institution.
“You are a best practice institution; we acknowledge your performance in cooperate sector in maintaining best possible standards and innovation,” Mr Moraitis said.
“The Australia Government through AusAID will continue to support NARI, including through the annual budget support which started since 2007, because we acknowledge that NARI has good government practises and high performance outcomes approach to their work.”