Papua New Guinea is intensifying efforts to position agriculture as a key driver of economic growth, with significant funding commitments and national programmes aimed at strengthening the sector’s contribution to jobs, exports and rural incomes.
A major boost has come from the World Bank, which has committed approximately K1.8 billion to support agricultural development. The funding is expected to focus on improving productivity, strengthening value chains and expanding market access for farmers across the country.
At the same time, the Government has launched the Agri-Connect initiative, designed to improve coordination between farmers, agribusinesses and markets. The programme aims to address long-standing challenges in linking production with commercial opportunities.
Prime Minister James Marape has reinforced the importance of the sector, calling for one million farming families to contribute actively to the country’s economic future. The vision places agriculture at the centre of inclusive growth, with a strong focus on rural development and food security.
Existing programmes, including those under the Productive Partnerships in Agriculture Project and related initiatives, are also contributing to progress in key commodities such as coffee, cocoa and oil palm.
Despite this momentum, structural challenges remain. Transport and logistics constraints, access to finance and limited infrastructure continue to affect productivity and market integration.
For businesses, the evolving landscape presents opportunities across agribusiness, supply chains, processing and export development. There is increasing scope for partnerships that support value addition and improve market access.
The combined push from government and development partners signals a clear intent to diversify the economy beyond resources, with agriculture playing a central role in driving long-term, broad-based growth in Papua New Guinea.
