Lae, Tuesday, April 8, 2025 – Papua New Guinea’s foremost rice researcher and Deputy Director General of the National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI), Dr Peter Gendua, has called for urgent and strategic policy reform to unlock the full potential of the country’s domestic rice industry.
Addressing the National Agriculture Public-Private Sector Partnership Conference in Lae, Dr Gendua delivered a compelling presentation that combined scientific insight with practical experience, underscoring the pressing need for government action to support local rice production and reduce the nation’s heavy dependence on imports.
“We need enabling policies that are neutral, inclusive, and designed to encourage participation across the board,” Dr Gendua told a room filled with farmers, researchers, investors, and policymakers. “Our regulations must not favour a few entities—new investors must feel equally welcome.”
Dr Gendua warned that bias in regulatory frameworks and lack of investor support could deter the very businesses needed to build a viable domestic rice sector. He stressed the importance of designing agricultural policy in a way that creates a level playing field and encourages innovation, expansion, and competition.
Incentivising Growth Through Tax Reform
Drawing parallels with PNG’s resource extraction sector, Dr Gendua called on the government to extend the same investment incentives—such as tax holidays—offered to mining and petroleum companies, to the agriculture sector, particularly rice.
“If mining companies are offered tax holidays, then why not rice?” he said. “Rice is not just a crop; it’s a national food security asset. Supporting it with the right incentives will go a long way toward ensuring a resilient local supply.”
Tackling Technical Barriers and Land Tenure
Dr Gendua noted that rice cultivation is particularly sensitive to environmental conditions such as temperature, water levels, and land preparation, all of which require technical precision and mechanised support.
“Even a 10 to 20 percent change in early morning conditions, or improper soil preparation, can destroy an entire rice crop,” he said. “If we want productivity, then mechanisation must be accessible to our farmers.”
He added that land tenure remains a persistent challenge for commercial rice farming, particularly for investors lacking secure access to customary land. Without clear land agreements and adequate infrastructure, he warned, investors will be discouraged from making long-term commitments to rice development.
Meeting Consumer Taste and Quality Preferences
A critical point in Dr Gendua’s address centred around aligning rice production with consumer taste preferences. PNG consumers, he explained, tend to favour rice that is soft, fragrant, and sticky—a profile commonly associated with Japonica varieties.
“Our people have a clear taste preference, and that must be reflected in the rice breeding programmes,” he said. “We are already working with Japonica-Indica crosses—varieties that are suited for our climate, but also palatable to local tastes.”
He noted that variety selection should be guided by both scientific criteria and market demand, so that consumers do not reject locally produced rice in favour of imported brands.
Building a Self-Reliant Rice Industry for PNG’s Future
Dr Gendua’s address comes at a critical time, as PNG looks to build food sovereignty and reduce its reliance on imported staples—rice among them. The country currently imports over 300,000 tonnes of rice annually, costing the economy hundreds of millions of kina and exposing it to global market shocks.
“Developing our own rice industry is not just about economics—it’s about national pride, rural employment, and food security,” Dr Gendua said. “With sound policies, the right technology, and industry support, we can meet the demand with rice grown right here in PNG.”
His call was met with widespread support from stakeholders in attendance, many of whom echoed the sentiment that PNG’s agriculture sector—particularly staples like rice—must now take centre stage as the country celebrates 50 years of independence and charts a path towards sustainable development.
The conference continues this week in Lae, featuring presentations from government officials, research institutions, and private sector leaders, focusing on partnership-driven strategies to transform agriculture into a modern, resilient, and profitable engine for inclusive economic growth.