Tourism to promote farmers

By KELVIN JOE
LOCAL farmers will able to showcase their products and create additional revenue through tourism, according to Tourism Promotion Authority (TPA) chief executive officer Eric Uvovo.
Uvovo said Papua New Guinea had huge potential in agri-tourism and this area could be developed to bring economic growth through commercialising of subsistence farming, creating employment opportunities and generate extra income for local farmers.
“Every agency must work together to expose the great potential in agricultural products because there is plenty of money in the tourism sector,” he said.
Uvovo said this during an agreement signing between the Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL) and TPA in the National Capital District yesterday to work together and develop agri-toursm in the country over the next three years.
He said it was important for TPA and DAL to work together to unleash the potential of agri-tourism for the benefit citizens and communities.
“We are going to see key outline development with new products,” he said.
The two organisations will develop a national agri-tourism policy to guide investment through a working group for implementation of the agreement and expansion of the committee to include other stakeholders such as Food and Agriculture Organisation and Fresh Produce Development Agency.
The first projects will be implemented in Eastern Highlands, Milne Bay, East New Britain and Morobe before reaching other provinces.
DAL secretary Dr Sergie Bang said agri-tourism would see local farmers benefit from another revenue stream through the development of tour itineraries centered around their commodities or cash crops such as honey production, trout farming, or coffee growing.
“The local farmers will able to showcase their farm sites, processes from raw materials to finished products and brand local products or dishes and importantly they can generate additional revenue through tourism,” Bang said.