World Food Day Breakfast Sparks International Investor Interest in Markham Valley

On World Food Day, October 16, 2024, Grow PNG participated in the Grow Asia Annual General Meeting in Singapore. The event brought together key stakeholders from the public, private, and civil society sectors. Grow PNG hosted a Breakfast Session, where important discussions about agriculture in Markham Valley and Papua New Guinea took place. The session was led by Grow Asia Executive Director Beverly Postma and Grow PNG’s David Stewart.

The purpose of the breakfast session was to present investment opportunities in the Markham Valley and promote the agricultural food systems and landscapes of the region. The session also highlighted Grow PNG’s initiatives in the valley, carried out in partnership with the Markham District Development Authority and local smallholder farmers.

Grow PNG's Country Director David Stewart, and Grow Asia Executive Director, Beverly Postma

Key highlights shared during the breakfast by David Stewart included the issuance of land titles, made possible through the support of the Grow PNG Advisory Council, the Markham District Development Authority, and the Morobe Provincial Government. Grow PNG facilitated the issuance of these land titles in the Markham Valley with ongoing funding support from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Secure land tenure is a key driver of resilience, providing local communities with the foundation needed to grow, expand, and innovate within the agri-business sector, which leads to sustainable investment and economic empowerment.

Moreover, Grow PNG Country Program Manager Ruthy Kusak-David shared insights on Grow PNG’s learning and experience with Grow Asia’s model of stakeholder engagement and partnerships.

Grow PNG Country Program Manager, Ruthy Kusak-David

“Through the Grow Asia model, Grow PNG was able to develop strong partnerships with government bodies, the District Government of Markham Valley, and private sector agribusinesses,” she explained. “Grow PNG’s role is to build trust and act as a convener, which resulted in the issuance of the land titles to the Incorporated Land Groups.”

Senior Adviser for Innovation at Grow Asia, Paul Voutier, supported Ruthy’s comments by sharing his experience in supporting Grow PNG as a convener. These discussions sparked new ideas for addressing the unique challenges faced by local farmers, particularly smallholder farmers and women-led businesses in the valley.

The breakfast discussion resulted in valuable feedback and expressions of interest from key investors, including representatives from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), who see this presentation as an opportunity to explore potential investment partnerships in the Markham and Ramu Corridors.

Looking ahead, Grow PNG will continue to encourage new investments in the region. The Grow Beyond blended-finance model, showcased during the Grow Asia Annual General Meeting, is one of the key strategies that will play a crucial role in attracting capital to smallholder agriculture, particularly in Southeast Asia and Papua New Guinea.

By building partnerships with global investors and sector leaders, and through collaboration with Grow Asia, Grow PNG aims to create scalable solutions that benefit smallholder farmers and their communities.