By: Theckla Gunga- EMTV,Port Moresby
Papua New Guinea has suggested to APEC member countries to address issues on food security, translate policies into business opportunities and promote women participation in the agriculture sector.
PNG’s Vice Minister for Agriculture and Livestock, Henry Ame made these remarks when opening discussions on Policy Partnership on Food Security in APEC member countries.
The two day discussions will conclude tomorrow.
Papua New Guinea is chairing talks on developing a Policy that will improve food security in the 21 APEC economies.
Vice Agriculture and Livestock minister Henry Ame says the discussions is important because APEC economies are major producers of food items which are consumed and traded globally.
But on a local scale, these discussions are important for PNG consumers because 80 per cent of our people are subsistence farmers.
These talks will ensure effective and efficient food value chains are developed to supply sufficient nutrients, which are safe and affordable for its consumers.
Food Security is an increasing concern for APEC economies because of the increase in food prices.
Thus APEC economies realised that without a policy in place, there will not be any control on food prices.
As a result the Policy Partnership on Food Security was established in 2011 to strengthen the public to private cooperation in addressing food security in APEC economies.
