Galgal png national stakeholder workshop presentation

Dr. Keith Galgal

Agriserf Limited

EVIDENCE BASE AGRICULTURAL-NUTRITION

NEXUS IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Introduction• Food and nutrition security (FNS) is high on the global policy agenda

• FNS is of special significance for the African, Caribbean and the

Pacific (ACP) region.

• CTA has prioritized strengthening the linkages between nutrition and

agriculture from 2015 and beyond for ACP region

• Joint EC/FAO/CTA/WBG framework of action (2014)

on “Agriculture and nutrition: a common future”

• Strategic Priority = improving ”the knowledge and evidence base to

maximize the impact of food and agricultural systems on nutrition”

Introduction (Cont.)

• Reflected in the CTA regional business plans (2015).

• CTA - interested in collecting more detailed information on the

agriculture and food and nutrition situation in selected countries where

malnutrition is prevalent to determine the entry points which provide the

greatest opportunity for strengthening the agriculture-nutrition nexus.

• This rapid scan for evidence base agriculture nutrition nexus in Papua

New Guinea was commissioned CTA.

• The analysis presented in this report is intended to Inform Food and

Nutrition Security Policy and Practice: Strengthening the Agriculture-

Nutrition Nexus and Improving Outcomes.

Methodology• Rapid appraisal and case study to scan for evidence to build case for

agriculture nutrition nexus in Papua New Guinea,

• The study involved first, review of government policies that were linked

to agriculture, food and nutrition from secondary sources,

• Secondly, from the review of secondary sources identify institutional

framework, intervention programs and target groups and

• Lastly, 4 case studies were conducted to assess lessons learnt in terms

of agricultural food and nutrition access, availability, income and health

outcomes.

• Case study # 1 - POM urban settlement

• Case study # 2 - Lae peri urban block

• Case study # 3 - Ambunti, East Sepik

• Case study # 4 - Finschaffen, Morobe province

Papua New Guinea (PNG) -

OverviewGeography– Largest of the Pacific Islands Nations.

- Made up of the eastern half of the island of New Guinea in the western Pacific Ocean

- Several large volcanic islands & 600 small and scattered islands to the east and north in the Bismarck and Solomon Seas.

- Total land area is over 462, 840 km2.

- Land border with Indonesian province of West Papua, and sea boundaries with the Solomon Islands and Australia.

- Topography - among the most rugged in the world, with altitudes of over 4000 m.

- Large geographical diversity exists with offshore islands, lowland forests and extensive marches, dry savannah and temperate highlands

- < 20 % of the country is inhabited

- Overview

Population – 7 Million Spread over 22

provinces

Density – 16 persons per Km2

Population Growth – 2.7 %

85 % largely rural

Culturally diverse with 800 languages

Official language – English

National language – Tok Pisin (Pidgin)

National Flag

Overview - EconomyPre – Independence – Largely Agricultural export (Coffee, Cocoa, Copra, Coconut oil, Rubber, Spice, Fisheries)

Post Independence – 1980 onwards (Mines, Oil & Gas)

Up to 2015 – PNG is a net exporter of raw materials (renewable & non renewable sectors) & a net importer

2015 Economy dominated by non-renewable (Mining & Energy)

US$10 b (70 % of GDP)

Agriculture contribution – 27 % GDP (US$ 2 b)

Agriculture - Main export commodities 2 % of total exports; Crude Oil Palm –PGK1 b (US$380); Coffee – PGK500 m (US$190 m); Cocoa – PGK300 m (US114.3 m)

Domestic Market - Fresh food valued at PGK3 b (US$1.143 b) annually; Poultry – PGK821 m annually (US$285.8 m)

Economy growing at 10 % last 5 years

*The reliability of PNG’s national statistics, including GDP figures, remain an issue, being largely imputed rather that calculated from extensive data collected.

Level of Development – Social

Indicators1. Health Infant mortality rate (< 12 months of age) – 57 per 1000 births (5.7 %) in

2006. The 2015 Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target tailored for PNG is 44 per 1000 live births. This rate is still high by international standards compared to countries in the region, eg. 10 for Malaysia in 2007 and 16 for Fiji in 2007.

Infant mortality rate (under 5 years) – 75 per 1000 births (7.5 %) in 2006. The 2015 MDG target tailored for PNG is 72 per 1000. Key reasons for this high rate are poor health and a lack of nutrition. Comparing with countries in the region, Malaysia was 12 per 1000 live births in 2007 and Fiji was 18 per 1000 live births in 2007.

Infants under 5 years of age with moderate to high malnutrition - Over 50% in 2008. Most children under 5 years visiting public health facilities have been diagnosed with severe or moderate malnourishment.

Maternal mortality rate – 733 per 100,000 women in 2006. Maternal mortality rate has worsened, is very high by international standards – 4 times higher on average than Pacific island countries. The 2015 MDG target for PNG is 274 per 100,000 live births.

Incidences of Tuberculosis – 473 per 100,000 people in 2008. The current rate is three times higher on average than middle income countries. The MDG target for PNG is to have TB under control by 2015, and to reverse the incidence of TB by 2020.

Incidences of Malaria – 246 per 100,000 people in 2008. Although the incidence of malaria has fallen recently, the number of deaths has risen. The 2015 MDG target for PNG is to have malaria under control by 2015, and to reverse the incidence of malaria by 2020.


IndicatorsHealth (cont.) HIV/AIDS prevalence rate – 1 % in rural areas and 2 – 4 % in urban areas. A

generalized HIV/AIDS epidemic is underway in PNG and has the potential to have a devastating impact on rural livelihoods and economic development through its direct and indirect impact on household labour availability. One forecast estimates HIV/AIDS could cause a 34 % reduction in the size of PNG’s workforce by 2020 (O’Keefe et al., 2005).

Cardiovascular risk factors prevalence rates for obesity (BMI>30) – High prevalence; men 27%, women 38% among the urban coastal population; 16% (men and women) among the rural coastal population; and 3.3% (men) and 2.2% (women) in the rural highlands. With diet and changes in lifestyle and coronary diseases are becoming more prevalent.

Life expectancy – 59.2 years. PNG’s life expectancy is very low by international standards. The average for developing countries is 67 and for East Asia and Pacific 72. Future progress depends on controlling HIV/AIDS and pre-mature deaths from diet related lifestyle diseases.


IndicatorsHealth (cont.) Number of hospitals in full operation - 19. PNG’s hospitals have

deteriorated due to the lack of capacity and specialized skills required to meet the increasing demand for quality health services.

Number of functioning aid posts in PNG - 1870 in 2008. Of the 2672 aid posts in the country, about 30% are closed and many are not operating at full capacity due to lack of equipment, health workers and medical supplies.

Facilities with adequate medical supplies – 51 % in 2008. Distribution of medical supplies to health facilities declined markedly in 2008.

Facilities receiving at least one visit from Health headquarters a year –53 % in 2008. Average supervisory visits to health facilities have remained low with little improvement in most provinces.

Ratio of physicians per 100,000 people – 5 per 100,000 people (300 Physicians). The number of physicians is inadequate, particularly in rural areas. By comparison, the ratio in Malaysia is 70 per 100,000. Only 35 physicians a year are trained in PNG.

Number of nursing staff – 50 per 100,000 people in 2009 (2844 nurses) and 80 % nearing retirement age.


IndicatorsHealth (cont.) Community health workers - 3883 in 2009. Health services delivery in rural

areas has been a major challenge with insufficient community health workers in health posts and health centres.

Supervised deliveries – 37 % in 2008. Unsupervised deliveries are a key reason infant and maternal mortality rates are very high.

Antenatal care – 63 % of pregnancies in 2008. Insufficient attention is paid to antenatal care for detecting early risks in pregnancies, maternal and infant health.

Immunization coverage - 52% of children aged 12 to 23 months fully immunized in 2006. Immunization coverage has 100% improved from 38% in 1996 to 69 % of the population are immunized in 2008 but is still inadequate. Full coverage is needed for reducing infant mortality, preventing diseases and reducing the demand on health treatment services.

Food outlets implementing safe food code of practice – 40 % in 2008. Food regulation safety is inadequately enforced, putting the community at risk. Prevention of food borne diseases reduces the burden on health services.

Access to health services - Poor in rural areas where more than 83 % of population reside. In urban areas access to quality health services is poor.

Clean water and sanitation – 9 % of the population have access to piped clean water. Provisions of clean water and good sanitation and essential for reducing the spread of diseases, sustain good health and hygiene.


Indicators

Health (Summary)1. The mortality pattern has not changed in the last ten years.

Communicable diseases account for the majority of deaths in Papua New Guinea. Immunization coverage is not sufficient.

2. Infant mortality can be attributed to five causes; pneumonia (33%), neonatal infection (17 %), slow foetal growth/immaturity (11 %), hypoxia/asphyxia (17 %) and meningitis (7 %). Pneumonia and malaria are the prominent causes of death among older children. Differences in infant mortality rates and maternal mortality rates vary greatly between regions.

3. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer and coronary heart disease are prevalent later in life especially in urban centres.

4. Obstetric causes, especially in the rural areas, are a prominent cause of death in women of child bearing age. Nearly twice as many women in urban centres (87 %) than in rural areas (43 %) use health facilities to deliver their babies.

5. Lifestyle and change of attitude towards food is critical for good health & wellbeing


Indicators2. Education Net admission rate (percentage of ages 6 -14) – 11.5 %.

Many children are not admitted to school at correct age. International research demonstrates that students attending school at the correct official age perform better.

Net enrolment rate (percentage of ages 6-14) – 52.9 %. Low enrolment rate by world standard is due to low affordability, lack of infrastructure and poor quality teaching, especially in rural areas.

Completion rate to grade 8 – 45.4 %. The rate of completion at all levels of education has not improved and of the total number of students admitted at the first grade, only 45.4% completed level 8.

Retention rate – 30 %. There is a low transition of students from one level of education to another, particularly at year 8 and higher. Lack of capacity in the education system is the key constraint.

Average class size (teacher to pupil ratio) – 1:45. Performance of students and quality of education has been undermined by a high teacher student ratio. This can be overcome by reducing class size and/or by integrating IT and other facilities into the classroom.


IndicatorsEducation (cont.) Youth literacy rate (% of ages 15-25 years) – less than 64

%. Poor outcome in literacy are a result of low enrolment and retention, a misguided curriculum and weak teaching. Literacy skills are essential for economic social participation.

Numeracy (percentage of ages 15-25) – n/a. There is a lack of emphasis in the teaching of numeracy skills and this is holding back PNG’s progress. International research demonstrates a strong link between mathematical skills and development.

Number of teachers and support staff – 38,000 in 2008. The number of teachers and support staff is insufficient to meet the needs of higher enrolment rates, reduced class sizes and a rising population.

The adult literacy rate - 72%, (81% for males and only 63% for females (UNICEF, 2002).

HDI – 50 out of 148 countries (UN)


Indicators

3. Poverty

38 % of population (1996 household survey)

Significant high in rural PNG (93 %) > one million people

live in severe poverty

Proportion of those living below the national poverty line

increased from 38 % to 54 % between 1996 and 2003

(World Bank, 2003).

Proportion of people living on less than US$1/day

(adjusted for purchasing power) increased from 25 % to

40 %.

Varies significantly both between and within different

provinces (relative geographic isolation being a major

determinant).

Level of Development – Social Indicators

Low Birth Weight

About 10 % of infants born in health facilities have a low birth weight (<2500 g) (data compiled NDH)

10.2% in 1999,

9.9% in 2000,

8.9% in 2001, and

9.7% in 2002.

*Geographical differences, with infants in the highlands heavier than infants of lowland or coastal mothers. Milne Bay, Madang, East Sepik and Sandaun Provinces have each recorded more than 15 % low birth weight rates.

4. Nutrition & Health


Indicators

Child growth – Malnutrition

obvious in 2nd & 3rd yr of life

40 % malnourished

45 % after major El Nino caused drought in 1998

◦ Nutritional Anaemia

40 % pregnant mothers (could be high in rural areas)

In infants anaemia is one of the top 10 cause of hospital admissions & death

Nutrition & Health (cont.)

Obesity

48 % In a peri urban village near the capital,

26 % in settlement near the capital,

Communities in rural areas have relatively low levels of obesity,

Cardiovascular risk factors prevalence rates for obesity (BMI>30), with the highest prevalence (men 27%, women 38%) among the urban coastal population, 16% (men and women) among the rural coastal population, and 3.3% (men) and 2.2% (women) in the rural highlands.

Malnutrition in women is frequently due to an inadequate intake of energy and protein, and in rural women BMI decreases with age.

*The nutritional problem is not simply one of production, but also of knowledge and attitude to food.


Indicators

Nutrition & Health (cont.)

These social indicators for PNG

contradicts the bold statement

below.

“We have made some bold

statements in the Papua New

Guinea Vision 2050 about the kind

of society we want to enjoy and

leave for the future generations. It

goes without saying that we aim

for nothing less than achieving the

highest quality of life for our

people” (Extract from PNG Vision

2050).


Indicators

Founding Prime Minister of Papua New

Guinea – Grand Chief Sir Michael T Somare.

Agriculture – Nutrition Nexus

Rapid Scan

Data collection

Secondary - Policy scan – to identify

government policies (what worked & what did

not work)

Case studies

Policies & Strategies Directed at

Agriculture & Food Security

Vision 2050 –PNG Govt.’s development blue print, a framework for long-term development strategy.

Vision 2050 is underpinned by seven Strategic Focus Areas, which are referred to as pillars:

◦ Human Capital Development, Gender, Youth and People Empowerment;

◦ Wealth Creation;

◦ Institutional Development and Service Delivery;

◦ Security and International Relations;

◦ Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change;

◦ Spiritual, Cultural and Community Development; and

◦ Strategic Planning, Integration and Control.

The Vision 2050 strategy for agriculture is pinned under the wealth creation pillar and has the following visions:

◦ Establish two major economic projects in all 89 districts;

◦ Expand production volume of all major cash crops to enable downstream processing;

◦ Provide two agriculture extension officers per district;

◦ Improve the terms and conditions of employment of agricultural officers; and

◦ Establish a unified agricultural plan by 2015.

2. Medium Term Development Strategy

(MTDS)

The MTDS was intended to provide an

overarching plan for economic and social

development. It had three specific objectives:

◦ Good governance

◦ Export – driven growth, and

◦ Rural development through poverty reduction,

empowerment and human resource development



Export – driven growth was to have been

achieved through - Promotion of income earning

opportunities (including agricultural research and

extension, and marketing; the nucleus estate model;

revitalizing the Rural Development Bank; micro-credit

scheme and skills training; and establishing industrial

parks)


Agriculture & Food SecurityMedium Term Development Strategy

(MTDS) (Cont.)

3. National Agriculture Development Strategy (NADS) The NADS 2002 – 2012 provided the overarching framework

for Agriculture sector with emphasis on:◦ Developing enabling environments to support the National Agriculture

Development Plan (NADP)

◦ Harmonizing the legislation reform

◦ Promotion of the private sector

◦ Organization reforms for National department of Agriculture and Livestock (NDAL)

◦ Reforms of the agricultural credit system

◦ Improve social, economic, physical and institutional infrastructure

◦ Improve economic services

◦ Improve marketing through cooperative-based services, and

◦ Science-based development through a more coordinated prioritized and better funded national agricultural research effort.



4. Medium Term Development Plan (MTDP)

Key strategies for MTDP to achieve the agricultural sector goal are:

Land development

Providing adequate extension

Developing and improving roads and other agricultural infrastructure

Other strategies for implementation are major rehabilitation and development programs in the tree crops and livestock industries,

Control and eradication of exotic pests and diseases and

Enforcing Codex food safety and fair trade standards which, in turn, will support the marketing of PNG’s food exports

*The impact of the current and future MTDPs on the agricultural sector will be a five-fold increase in the level of production by 2030, worth K7.2 billion and contributing 267,000 additional jobs.



5. National Agriculture Development plan (NADP)

The NADP 2007 – 2016 - strategic implementation plan for the agriculture sector with provision of PGK100 Million annually from PNG Government.

Goal of NADP - to stimulate growth and sustainable development of the agriculture sector.

Purposes:

◦ Underpin the government’s MTDS

◦ Guide agriculture sector development by aligning identified priorities with resources

◦ Institutionalize planning system and determine planning process for coordinated sector development

◦ Institutionalize implementation arrangements of the national plan

◦ Contribute to promoting food security for PNG households.



1. National Nutrition Policy

The first National Nutrition Policy was endorsed in 1978,

The interdepartmental Food and Nutrition Advisory Committee organized the 1992 National Workshop to reformulate the Food and Nutrition Policy.

The workshop laid the foundation of the National Nutrition Policy, endorsed by the National Executive Council in 1995.

2. Food Security Policy

In 2000 the Papua New Guinea National Food Security Policy was endorsed by National Executive Council and mainly implemented by the Department of Agriculture and Livestock.

After 1997 El Neno inflicted drought

Policies and Programmes directed at

Nutrition

3. National Dietary Guidelines National Dietary Guidelines - nutrition manual Nutrition for Papua New Guinea "Six nutrition messages

for good health", aimed especially at women and children, are promoted through use of a flipchart.

A National Coordinating Committee for Iodine Deficiency Disorders - Plan of Action for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (1995),

Pure Food Act was amended to state that all salt, imported or produced domestically, should be iodized.

Vitamin enrichment of imported white rice

4. Breast-feeding policy A decline in breast-feeding in the 1970s was reversed by legislation in 1977 (the Baby

Feed Supplies Control Act) - controlled the sale of feeding bottles and teats.

This successful strategy served as a model for the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes.

A 1995 study showed - main reason for switching to bottle- feeding was employment. Implementation of the law needs to be strengthened.

There is a National Breast-feeding Policy. Mother support groups, e.g. Susu Mamas, are active and distribute information materials for mothers.

Provision for 12 weeks Maternity leave. The general orders for the Public Service grant mothers two breast-feeding breaks a day, but a 1995 study showed that only 27% of women used this right and 64% were unaware of it. Most workplaces do not have facilities for breast-feeding.

Policies and Programmes Directed at

Nutrition

5. Monitoring and surveillance of nutritional status

There is no systematic monitoring of nutritional status,

Information is routinely collected on birth weight, weight-for-age and nutritional anaemia.

Weight-for-age data is collected on a monthly basis for children of 0-5 years and the data is compiled for the Health Information System.

6. Intervention programmes Improve nutrition in pregnancy, infant-feeding practices, child growth and

nutritional anaemia.

The Health Information and Monitoring Branch of the Department of Health provides annual reports to assist with monitoring and planning of intervention programmes.

Provincial Nutritionists provide nutrition education for the general public and for schoolchildren.

In 2003, new nutrition education materials became available (flipcharts, posters).


Nutrition

7. Nutrition effort

Based on evidence from early national nutrition surveys, mostly

anthropometric,

Trend in food consumption pattern - increasing dependency on

imported foods & contributing effect on the existing nutritional

problem. The principal concerns for the National Nutrition Policy

were:

◦ The nature of food supply

◦ The selection of nutritious diets, and

◦ The provision of medical services for the nutritionally vulnerable.

Policies & Programmes Directed

at Nutrition

The policy was implemented holistically by an extensive network of nutritional personal in PNG having connections with village affairs (community affairs), agriculture, food science, education, and health. This network provided an excellent opportunity to bring the many ecological advantages of village life to bear on the problem and maximize self-sufficiency

National Nutrition Policy enabled food and nutrition training programs at:◦ University of PNG Medical Faculty (Degree in Medicine –

Human Nutrition)

◦ College of Allied Health Science (Diploma in Health Extension) and Goroka Teachers College (Diploma in Teaching)

◦ University of Technology (Degree in Food Science and Technology)

◦ Provincial Health Centres and Aid Posts (on site maternal and child care awareness programs)


Nutrition

Summary of Policy &

Development Strategies

o Government Strategic Policies – well defined

o However, there is disconnection amongst implementation agencies (eg. Agriculture, Health, Treasury, Environment etc)

o Within agency there is lack of communication

o Most statistics & development data outdated eg. National household, National nutrition, food & nutrition security,

o Weak link between Agriculture - Food – Nutrition

o NADP placed lot of emphasis on role of the National Department of Agriculture and Livestock in its implementation plan but less emphasis on the role of the private sector and civil society. The NADP had not planned for cross-sectoral linkages with other sectors that are likely have significant direct and indirect impacts, i.e. nutritional impact on health and well being of the population.

Case study 1: Mueller et al., 2001(a). Spatial patterns of child growth in Papua New Guinea and their relation to environment, diet, socio-economic status and subsistence activities.

Socio-economic status due increased cash crop production activities, was the most important factor in determining child growth within populations. Higher socio-economic status was correlated with better growth due to high consumption of imported and local high quality foods such as cereals, legumes, tinned fish/meat or fresh fish as there were affordable and accessible.

Conclusion - nutritional interventions in PNG should aim at promoting the consumption of such high energy and high protein foods as well as strengthening the general economic base of rural populations.

Evidence of Agriculture and Nutrition

Nexus

1. Anthropometric Evidence of Agriculture –

Nutrition Nexus

Case study 2: Mueller et al., 2001(b). Subsistence agriculture and child

growth in Papua New Guinea.

Child growth was better in agriculture systems with cassava and sweet

potato as staple crops, but worse in systems where banana, sago and taro

were staple crops. Both the cultivation of all major cash crops, and sales

of fish and food crops improved child growth.

More intensive agricultural systems were associated with larger children

indicating that the nutritional status of children benefited from

intensification as well as from the introduction of cash crops into traditional

subsistence systems.


Nexus


Nutrition Nexus

Case study 3: Heywood and Hide, 1994. Nutritional effects of export-crop production in Papua New Guinea: A review of the evidence.

The study reviewed the available data and summarized their findings as follows:

Cash cropping increased, the growth of children improved, particularly in the highlands, where, as a result of the later introduction of coffee and tea

Together with this change has come an increase in the prevalence of degenerative diseases in adults, particularly diabetes mellitus, obesity, coronary heart disease, and hypertension.

With cash income and changing lifestyles has come increased consumption of imported foods and increased food dependency.

Conclusion - cash cropping in Papua New Guinea has been associated with improved nutrition status contradicts common assertions of a negative relationship elsewhere.


Nexus


Nutrition Nexus

2. Transforming Agricultural Research Institutions: Evidence of Agriculture and Nutrition Nexus

The agriculture research system of PNG has been transformed recently to strategically align with the government’s national development policies and strategic plans, namely; PNG Vision 2050 (2010 – 2050), MTDP (2011- 2015), NADS (2002 – 2012) and NADP (2007 – 2016).

With funding and technical assistance from the Australian government through PNG – Australia Agriculture Research and Development Support Facility (ARDSF) agricultural research institutions have undergone transformation process in strategic planning, each with the overall goal to improve livelihoods and reduce poverty of rural communities dependent on the agricultural commodities.


Nexus

Case # 1

Strategy and Result Framework (2011 – 2020): Contributing to Improved Welfare of Farming and Rural Communities in PNG. NARI’s purpose (strategic objective) is to accomplish enhanced productivity, efficiency, stability and sustainability of the smallholder agriculture sector in the country so as to contribute to the improved welfare of rural families and communities who depend wholly or partly on agriculture for their livelihoods.

There are evidences of increased production of food crops from smallholder and rural farming communities who have taken up disease resistant and high yield food crops released by NARI, such as Taro (Colacassia esculenta) (NT1 – NT4), Cassava (Manihot esculenta) varieties, Aibika (a green leafy vegetable), Rice (Oryza sativa) and Galip nut (Canarium indicum) – highly nutritious nut with high caloric value.


Nexus


Nexus

Taro (Colocasiaesculenta)

Galip (Canariumindicum) nuts

Case # 2 PNG Cocoa Coconut Institute (CCI) Ltd.

Strategic Plan 2010 – 2020.

CCI was transformed with the goal: Improved livelihoods of rural

communities dependent on the cocoa and coconut industries, and

vision: Prosperous, happy and healthy rural communities; dynamic,

innovative and sustainable cocoa and coconut industries


Nexus

Case 3 – Coffee Industry Corporation (CCI)

CIC strategic Plan (2010 – 2018) was revised with

the organisational Goal: Improved livelihoods of

coffee farming communities and others along the

value chain.


Nexus

Case 4: Fresh Produce Development Agency (FPDA)

Ltd. – FPDA Strategic Plan (Corporate Plan 2010 - 2014).

FPDA’s moto is “Feeding and enriching Papua New

Guinea”. FPDA’s overarching goal is – improved food and

nutrition security, quality of life, incomes and business

opportunities for farming communities and others who

depend on the horticulture industry. The vision for FPDA

is: Food and nutrition secure and prosperous communities

in PNG.


Nexus

http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.pngjobseek.com/company/13035/Fresh-Produce-Development-Agency/&sa=U&ved=0ahUKEwiE3rvlk6fLAhXDKWMKHc1mBSMQwW4IFjAA&usg=AFQjCNHrvTmQxMiQl8xpTZ-ROrXlWknrrg

http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.pngjobseek.com/company/13035/Fresh-Produce-Development-Agency/&sa=U&ved=0ahUKEwiE3rvlk6fLAhXDKWMKHc1mBSMQwW4IFjAA&usg=AFQjCNHrvTmQxMiQl8xpTZ-ROrXlWknrrg

Case 4: PNG Oil Palm Industry Corporation (OPIC) Ltd. – OPIC Strategic Plan (2011 – 2020).

OPIC’s overall goal as stated is to: Enhanced standard of living, health, security and education of empowered communities participating in a sustainable oil palm industry in PNG.

The intended outcome - improved household food and nutrition security, income and housing; decreased infant and maternal mortality rate; reduced cases of gender-based violence; increased school enrolment and number of girls and boys graduating from high school; and increased ability of female and male farmers to plan, organize and deliver on their objectives.


Nexus

3. Development Partners◦ There is evidence that these agencies have a common

objective – Rural development in improved livelihood

through targeted interventions.

Eg.

World Bank – Raise Agricultural Productivity & link

farmers to market

NZAID – Improve rural livelihood

AusAID - Institutional capacity development


Nexus

Case StudiesCase study 1: Port Moresby Peri urban vegetable grower


Nexus

• Migrant

• Overcame food insecurity by

growing green leaf vegetables

• Earn income to buy food

• Depend on imported food

• Imbalanced nutrition

• Vulnerable to malnutrition (over

nutrition

Case study 2: Smallholder egg farmer:

Igam Estate, Lae Morobe Province.


Nexus

• Settler

• Egg and pawpaw farmer,

• Food security not and issue now

• Access to balanced diet and cash

income and clean drinking water.

• Malnutrition is not a cause for concern

here. This is an ideal model to shift from

subsistence to semi-commercial village

farmers and a step forward for small to

medium enterprise farmers (SMEF).

Case study 3 – Subsistence farmer from

Finschaffen district Morobe Province.


Nexus

• Remote and isolated

• No access to the outside world

(access to health, education

and other services).

• Purely subsistence farmers.

• Have food – mostly high

carbohydrate

• Nutritional insecurity is common

• Vulnerable to malnutrition

(under nutrition)

Case study 4 – Subsistence farmer, Sepik

River, East Sepik Province.


Nexus

• Remote and isolated

• No access to the outside world

(access to health, education

and other services).

• Purely subsistence farmers –

Fisherman & gatherer

• Have food – mostly high

carbohydrate

• Nutritional insecurity is common

• Vulnerable to malnutrition

(under nutrition)

Community nurseries


Nexus

Sales in supermarkets

Local Markets

Other

Evidences

Agriculture – Nutrition Nexus Rapid

Scan

Challenge – Climate change have impact on

Food & Nutrition Security & Health

ConclusionsKey Conclusions derived from this rapid scan for agriculture nutrition nexus are:

1. Major goals and objectives of the existing policies for agricultural development are income generation and improved livelihood. However, in terms of implementation agriculture and in general the renewable resource sectors (Fisheries and Forestry) have been categorized under the wealth creation pillar of the PNG Vision 2050 and are classified as subsectors under economic sector in the MTDS and PNGSDP. Thus, Agriculture development policies are very much convoluted by macroeconomic policies. Though, many consecutive governments have overstated agriculture as the “backbone” of PNG.

2. Agricultural development has been focused on production (volumes and tonnage), export-driven and promotion of income generation under prevailing infrastructure, underdeveloped supply and value chain, and very poor to non-existent service delivery system.

4. Institutional frameworks and governance structure for the agriculture sector has recently been transformed and aligned to the global objectives of PNG Vision 2050, with linkages to national, regional and international working groups. All agricultural systems institutions of PNG have structured their strategic plans, all with the common goal – improved household food and nutrition security, income; decreased infant and maternal mortality rates; and improve overall livelihoods of households and communities who are dependent on agriculture

6. Nutrition monitoring, education/awareness and surveillance are the function of the National Department of Health’s nutrition unit. The nutrition contents of foods have been the function of NARI, and to lesser extent, FPDA. Whilst training in food nutrition and chemistry is the function of universities. The Department of Health and the Medical Research Institute mostly do nutritional research in relation to anthropometric data collection and reporting.

7. There is preference for rice which has replaced the common staples like sweet potato, yams, taro, sago and bananas, at both the urban and rural PNG. In addition, Papua New Guineas are very poor cooks (not the trained chefs) and do not take time to prepare tasty foods.

Dietary patterns have changed dramatically over the years from

subsistence to import dependent. However, the changes are not

been monitored and documented regularly. Thus, there is a huge

information gap between years/period. Available data on National

household nutrition survey is outdated and require urgent updating.

This time a multi sectorial approach will be required.

Cash crop production, particularly by smallholders, has had dramatic

effects on economic growth. This scan has identified that cash

cropping is associated with improved growth of young children and

decreased infant and child mortality. At the same time a strong

upward trend in adult weights and heights is associated with an

increase in diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The challenge now

is to devise programmes that retain the important benefits to child

growth and health and, at the same time, arrest the disturbing trend

toward increasing chronic degenerative diseases of adults.

There is disconnection in information management across sectors.

Though current information is lacking, historical anthropometric data

show that agriculture, nutrition and health are inherently linked.

However, economic growth and poverty reduction are necessary but

not sufficient for reducing malnutrition (over nutrition and

undernutrition).

There is no ‘silver bullet’ to the malnutrition problem; rather an integrated approach combining economic policies, strategic investments, and targeted programs is needed. Now that institutional frameworks for agriculture research and development are aligned, more rigorous research is needed to study the overall nutritional impacts of agricultural transformation.

Finally, there is no better way to emphasis the nexus between agriculture and nutrition than to quote, “Neither agricultural growth nor non-agricultural growth is sufficient to reduce child malnutrition (due to limiting non-income factors such as disease burden, inappropriate child care, etc.” (Ecker, 2012)

“Agricultural Growth is Good, But is Not

Enough to Improve Nutrition and

Health” Nutritional Challenges

◦ National

Food safety net

Value chain actors attitude

Outdated Data

Climate Change

Bio security

◦ Household

Purchasing Power

Under performing Agriculture

Market Access

Climate Change

◦ Individual

Nutritional Transition

Education

Employment

What can we do

Invest in human capital - Education

Invest in infrastructure

Invest in Research

Invest in empowering SMEF

Implement tighter bio security policies

Multi Sectorial Coordinated

Bodies

GOVT

Private sector – Inclusive Business

NGOs – WIB, FOWID, WIA, FBO

Research/Training institutions

Farmers

People

Relevant International partners

Target Groups

Urban settlers

Peri urban villages

Remote Rural communities

Mine & Energy Project impact

communities

Key Indicators

Social well being – well nourished

children & healthy mothers

Improve nutritional insecurity

Improve household income security

Increased life expectancy

Eradicate lifestyle diseases – diabetes,

cardio vascular risk factors

Food & Nutrition Security Lack

Govt vision & support

Government & Nonprofit

Galgal png national stakeholder workshop presentation