Government to Investigate Oil Palm Company in East New Britain After Grower Complaints

Government to Investigate Oil Palm Company in East New Britain
By Nathan Woti
The Papua New Guinea government is set to investigate an oil palm company in East New Britain following complaints from local growers about being underpaid for a decade. International Trade and Investment Minister Richard Maru announced that a committee comprising a top lawyer, a certified accountant, and a global oil palm expert would be formed to probe the company.
Maru highlighted that foreign companies must not exploit landowners and farmers. Farmers have reportedly been paid K16 per tonne for the last ten years, compared to K500 per tonne paid in neighboring provinces. This disparity has led farmers to halt sales to the company for nine weeks, impacting the entire value chain up to the national budget and exports.
The investigation aims to determine the extent of underpayment and ensure fair treatment of local farmers. Maru and Oil Palm Minister Francis Manake will collaborate closely with the government to finalize the investigation’s terms of reference. Maru suggested that this issue might be part of a larger problem, potentially leading to more farmers coming forward with similar complaints.