ON THIS DAY IN OUR HISTORY: Somare praises beef producers

In August 1983, Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Michael Somare lauded the Bogia people of Madang for their pioneering efforts in expanding the nation's beef production. He highlighted that 1400 individuals across eight villages had successfully established a significant cash-producing enterprise entirely owned by them. Somare made these remarks during the official opening of the Yakuasa cattle ranch near Bogia on August 10.

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The PNG market for beef is growing, but our production of beef has been falling. We have had to import a lot of beef. adding to our import bill and draining our resources.

The Prime Minister noted the growing demand for beef within PNG while domestic production had been declining, necessitating substantial imports that drained national resources. He emphasized his government's policy to encourage all forms of agriculture, aiming to replace imports, foster self-reliance, and promote cash cropping. The Yakuasa ranch emerged from an investigation by the Government’s Institute of Applied Social and Economic Research, which explored the feasibility of establishing commercial cattle ranches on disused traditional lands.

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My government has a broad policy of encouraging all forms of agriculture, replacing imports, encouraging self-reliance and encouraging cash cropping.

Following social and ownership assessments, the researchers made recommendations, and financing was secured through the Development Bank. This resulted in a substantial business owned by local people in a region previously considered underdeveloped. Prime Minister Somare pointed out that many Bogia residents previously had to leave their villages for work, leaving behind limited prospects for a better future.

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Now not only do they still own their traditional land, but also ranch. In the next ten years this ranch will be built up and it will supply beef to our towns and cities. This will bring money into the area, provide jobs, improve services and give the local people a better standard of living.

"Now not only do they still own their traditional land, but also ranch," Somare stated, envisioning that the ranch would supply beef to towns and cities within ten years. He anticipated this would inject money into the area, generate employment, improve services, and elevate the local standard of living, deeming it a "very worthwhile project" and congratulating all involved for devising an "excellent scheme."

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In all, it is a very worthwhile project. I congratulate everyone who has been involved so far – you have devised an excellent scheme which should bring important benefits to this area.