LAE, 8 April 2025 — Papua New Guinea’s rice industry has long remained in the shadows of more established agricultural sectors, but this is now set to change. Executive Chairman of the Papua New Guinea Rice and Grain Development Board, Mr Koren Maso, delivered a powerful address at the National Agriculture Industry Public-Private Sector Partnership Conference in Lae on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, calling for a national awakening to the economic and strategic importance of rice.
In his wide-ranging remarks, Mr Maso stated unequivocally that the country must move beyond its historical neglect of rice and grain production and seize the vast opportunities lying dormant across the country. He said that while export-oriented crops like coffee, cocoa, oil palm, and spices have benefited from years of institutional support, rice had been left behind.
“Coffee has a board. Cocoa has a board. Oil palm has a board. Even spices have one. But rice, which is consumed daily by nearly every household in this country, has been forgotten for far too long,” Mr Maso said. “Now, finally, we have a house for rice, and the time has come for us to act.”
Mr Maso noted that Papua New Guinea imports between 600,000 and 800,000 tonnes of rice each year, with each citizen consuming approximately 61.5 kilograms annually. This level of dependence on foreign supply, he said, leaves the country dangerously exposed to global shocks — including climate-induced disasters, international conflicts, or export restrictions by major rice producers like India, Vietnam, and China.
“If any of these countries stop exporting rice due to drought or war, we will face an immediate food crisis. We talk a lot about coffee and oil palm, but those are not foods that can sustain our people. Rice is. We eat it every day. It is a matter of national food security.”
Mr Maso revealed that around 6.4 million hectares of land in Papua New Guinea is suitable for rice cultivation, yet only a minuscule portion is currently under production. To rectify this, the government has tasked the newly established PNG Rice and Grain Development Board with implementing a national rice strategy aimed at reducing imports by 6 percent in 2025, and up to 25 percent by 2030.
The Board, according to Mr Maso, is already identifying pilot project sites in Central Province, Eastern Highlands, Western Highlands, and Morobe. The initial target is to cultivate at least 1,000 hectares in 2025, expanding gradually towards a long-term goal of 100,000 hectares. These developments will be supported through an annual K46 million government allocation, with K25 million set aside specifically for programme implementation and K11 million for operational costs of the new Board.
Mr Maso stressed that the Board’s role was not to compete with existing or prospective investors, but to serve as a facilitator, regulator, and coordinator, providing a stable policy environment and ensuring a level playing field.
“We are not here to replace private enterprise — quite the opposite. We are here to provide oversight, create confidence, and ensure that both large-scale investors and smallholder farmers have a stake in the future of rice production in this country.”
A major emphasis of the speech was on the need to unlock customary land. Mr Maso pointed out that most of the land in PNG remains under customary tenure, and without mechanisms to register and lease such land securely, large-scale agricultural investment would remain stifled. A special inter-government agency committee has been established to identify suitable customary land for rice farming, assist in registration, and convert land titles into secure state leases.
He explained that the government was keen to work directly with landowners — not just provincial governments — to ensure mutual benefits and equitable partnerships.
Another key issue highlighted was infrastructure. Mr Maso noted that rice is highly sensitive to water and requires significant irrigation infrastructure to achieve commercial yields. He pointed to other rice-producing nations, such as India, China, and Indonesia, where thousands of litres of water are used to produce each kilogram of rice. In contrast, PNG continues to rely on rain-fed models, which he described as outdated and inadequate for modern farming.
Beyond irrigation, Mr Maso called for greater government coordination in supporting enabling infrastructure such as roads, electricity, and storage facilities. He said the high cost of doing business in PNG — particularly related to transport and energy — made rice farming one of the most expensive in the world.
“Electricity in PNG is nearly five times more expensive than in India. Freight costs are through the roof. These are barriers we must address if we want to build a viable agriculture sector,” he said.
Despite these challenges, Mr Maso expressed optimism, pointing to the rising global demand for rice and opportunities for public-private collaboration. He also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to including smallholder farmers in the rice industry, stating that cooperatives and outgrower models would be central to the strategy.
“When a small farmer grows rice but cannot find a market, they give up. That is why the government is planning to build storage warehouses so that we can purchase their harvests and channel them into hospitals, schools, or the broader food system. This is how we ensure nobody is left behind.”
Mr Maso acknowledged that the success of the programme would depend on discipline and transparency in implementation. He criticised inefficiencies in the public sector, noting that delayed disbursement of funds and a lack of monitoring have often derailed past agriculture projects.
“We cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the past. This time, we are setting up proper monitoring and evaluation systems. We will work closely with the National Agriculture Sector Plan team, the Treasury, and our international partners to ensure that investments are tracked, outcomes are measured, and taxpayers’ money is put to good use.”
He also called on financial institutions and development partners to come forward with concessional financing options and green financing to support agriculture, especially in high-risk areas such as land mobilisation and irrigation infrastructure.
In conclusion, Mr Maso reiterated that while the road ahead may be challenging, the potential rewards are too great to ignore.
“We estimate that with full investment in rice on the available land, we could generate as much as K70 billion in annual value. This is not just about food — it’s about livelihoods, trade, rural development, and national pride. Let us rise to the challenge.”
PNG Rice and Grain Board is a worthwhile agency and with the government policy to reduce rice imports , this board must engaged fully in identifying potential areas and establishing rice farming in all the possible areas in the country. The Rice and Grain Board must engage extension Officers throughout the country to promote rice and other grain food commodities for fiid security.
Our community is trailing high altitude rice and preliminary harvests reveal that rice can be grown successfully in a high altitude location like Ialibu in the upper highlands. Thankyou to PNG Rice and Grain Board for promoting rice and grain which is a sustainable industry.
Thank you rice and grain too.