Review on the PNG National Food Security Policy (2018-2027)

By Lamonai Kenny

Introduction:

The PNG National Food Security Policy (2018-2027) is a policy developed by the Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL) in collaboration with various stakeholders, including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN). The policy reflects input from a wide range of consultations with government agencies, NGOs, and community organizations. The policy aims to tackle food insecurity, acknowledging it as a fundamental human right crucial for sustainable development and social stability. The policy seeks to improve the well-being and quality of life for all citizens by ensuring access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food. This review captures the policies summary, its relation to the National Security Policy (NSP) 2013, my critique on the strengths the policy obtains, recommendations for improvement, and a conclusion to wrap up the review.

Summary:

The National Food Security Policy 2018-2027 serves as a medium- to long-term framework aimed at establishing sustainable food security for all citizens of Papua New Guinea. Building upon the PNG NFSP 2000-2010, this policy emphasizes collaboration among stakeholders through joint planning and coordination. Its core objective is to ensure that by 2027, all citizens have reliable access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food. To achieve this overarching goal, the policy outlines several specific objectives. These include: reducing malnutrition, improving food production, regulating imports, and stabilizing food prices. Furthermore, Section 4 of the policy details five key strategies designed to create an integrated approach to enhance food security and nutrition throughout PNG. These five strategies are:

  • Boosting Farm Productivity: Advancing farming techniques, investing in research, and improving value chains to enhance food production.
  •  Building Resilience: Implementing climate-smart agriculture and biosecurity strategies to safeguard food supply against environmental and economic challenges.
  • Improving Nutrition: Encouraging protein-rich foods, diverse diets, and nutrition education to promote better health.
  • Empowerment of Women in Agriculture: Expanding financial and business opportunities for women to strengthen household food security. 
  • Strengthening Governance: Enhancing coordination, data collection, and partnerships for effective policy implementation. 

Critique:

The input from the various stakeholders highlights that the NFSP (2018-2027) is not a standalone policy but aligns with existing frameworks, including:

  • PNG National Food Security Policy 2000-2010
  •  PNG's Vision 2050
  • Sustainable Development Goal 2 (eradicating hunger and promoting sustainable agriculture)
  • The National Rice Policy
  • The PNG National Security Policy 2013

The National Food Security Policy (NFSP) 2018-2027 aligns with the NSP 2013, recognizing food security as a key aspect of national stability. While both policies emphasize protecting vulnerable groups, the NSP adopts a broader approach to safeguarding at-risk populations from various threats, whereas the NFSP specifically targets food security issues through equity and inclusion. It prioritizes support for marginalized groups such as women, youth, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities. When crafting new policies in PNG, it’s essential to view foundational policies like the NSP as structural bases, with newer frameworks like the NFSP serving as critical pillars that reinforce national security; particularly in the domain of food security.

A key strength identified in the NFSP (2018-2027) is its commitment to collaboration, as the strength of this policy lies in its strong emphasis on partnerships between the public and private sectors, as well as the involvement of various stakeholders. This collaborative approach is expected to boost the effectiveness of actions by bringing together different expertise, resources, and connections. (Prajapati et al., 2025) states that participatory approaches are key to a sustainable and inclusive agricultural transformation, making extension services responsive, environmentally friendly, and economically practical.

Additionally, a key strength identified from the policy is that it highlights the significance of leveraging local knowledge and practices to promote agricultural advancement. According to Antonelli (2023) indigenous knowledge plays a pivotal role in creating resilient, sustainable, and nutritious food systems. Recognizing this local wisdom is crucial for creating culturally appropriate and sustainable solutions that resonate with the locals.

Recommendations:

In order for the NFSP to be successful, the enhancement of stakeholder capacity through training and technical assistance across all levels focusing on agricultural production, nutrition, value chain development, and policy implementation can help to improve knowledge and skills. Collaboration between donor partners, local community organizations and government agencies can add much value to farmer learning of new knowledge and skills at the village level (Kopel & Pamphilon, 2023). Another recommendation is to allocate sufficient funding to food security initiatives within national and sub-national budgets so that initiatives are successfully carried out.

Conclusion:

This review emphasizes the significance of PNG’s National Food Security Policy (2018-2027) as a vital framework for achieving food security and its alignment with the National Security Policy (2013), which underscores food security’s role in national stability. While the policy’s focus on collaboration and local knowledge is a strength, the review suggests enhancing stakeholder capacity and securing sufficient funding to ensure effective implementation and long-term sustainability.

 

References:

Antonelli, Alexandre. (2023). Indigenous knowledge is key to sustainable food systems.                  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/367015305_Indigenous_knowledge_is_key_to_sustainable_food_systems

Department pf Agriculture and Livestock. (n.d.). Papua New Guinea National Food Security Policy 2018-2027.

        https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/png202059.pdf

Kopel, E., & Pamphilon, B. (2023). Key Points INNOVATIVE SOIL IMPROVEMENT TRAINING FOR INCREASING JIWAKA SEMI-SUBSISTENCE FARMERS SWEET POTATO PRODUCTION: LESSONS FOR APPLICATION AND SUSTAINABILITY.

        www.pngnri.org

Papua New Guinea Government. (2013). National security policy.    https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/2013-PNG-National-Security-Policy.pdf

Prajapati, C. S., Priya, N. K., Bishnoi, S., Vishwakarma, S. K., Buvaneswari, K., Shastri, S., Tripathi, S., & Jadhav, A. (2025). The Role of Participatory Approaches in Modern Agricultural Extension: Bridging Knowledge Gaps for Sustainable Farming Practices. Journal of Experimental Agriculture International, 47(2), 204–222.        

 https://doi.org/10.9734/jeai/2025/v47i23281

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Comments

  1. Anonymous25 April 2025 at 18:01

    Very insightful review. This is a valuable contribution to the ongoing discussions about food security in PNG.

    ReplyDelete

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