Agriculture is the most important activity carried out by the vast majority of Papua New Guineans. For most people, agriculture fills their lives, physically, culturally, economically, socially and nutritionally. Yet agriculture is the most undervalued and misunderstood part of PNG life (see Twenty myths about PNG agriculture, page 1). The reasons for this are partly because mineral and oil exports make PNG comparatively wealthy for a developing
PNG has a diverse and rich resource base for plants, animal and aquaculture genetic resources used for food and agriculture. These resources suppor the livelihood of the majority of rural population in the country. The safeguarding, maintainence and sustainable uses of this genetic diversity is essential for the current as well as livelihood security
REDD+
Agriculture s the foundation of and heart of the rural PNG economy with over 85% of its 7.5 million people depending on the sector for their livelihoods. This sector is faced with so many challenges including climate change, lack of access to markets and so on. The access to suitable and timely information and knowledge is also seen to be one of the key drawbacks of agriculture advancement in PNG.
The Papua New Guinea National Interpretation 2014 is based on the generic document of the Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Palm Oil 2013 (P&C 2013), which will be used as a standard for palm oil mills and plantations attaining certification under RSPO. The new Criteria, with associated Indicators, that have been added into the P&C 2013 are:
Criteria 1.3 – Ethical Conduct
Criteria 6.12 – Forced and Trafficked Labour
Criteria 6.13 – Respecting Human Rights; and
Criteria 7.8 – Minimizing GHG Emissions from New Plantings
Sustainable palm oil production is comprised of legal, economically viable, environmentally appropriate and socially beneficial management and operations. This is delivered through the application of the following set of Principles and Criteria, and the accompanying Indicators and Guidance.