Forget mining, agriculture the key says Paupau

A local farmer Leo Paupau has called on Bougainville leaders to leave mining and develop the agriculture sector to speed up the economic recovery of the Province.

Mr Paupau told New Dawn FM that the ABG has wasted five years and cannot continue to follow false stars at the expense of the people of Bougainville.

He asked how many more years ordinary village farmers had to wait to hear some good news from their leaders.

Mr Paupau said he can introduce cattle into now abandoned plantations and that even old coconut trees can be cut down and exported for timber at good prices.

He called on the Minister for Primary Industry to negotiate for mills to be set up in Buin, Kieta and Buka so that coconuts can be milled and exported.

He said he would like to see the ABG pump more funds into cocoa and coconuts instead of putting money into piggery and chicken projects.

He said cocoa and copra are already in place and can be rehabilitated very quickly.

He said he supports chicken and piggery projects but, without an abattoir, there will be no market for these projects.