2011, Volume 19, Paper 6
ISSN: 1883-5675

The feasibility of fresh ginger exports from Papua New Guinea to New Zealand

Christie Chang
Garry Griffith
Gus Maino

Abstract

The Papua New Guinea government has stated its desire to increase income and reduce poverty through export-driven economic growth, including fresh produce. Assessments have been conducted for a number of fruits and vegetables of the risks of Papua New Guinea imports into New Zealand. A trial shipment of fresh ginger from Papua New Guinea passed the Biosecurity New Zealand inspection with ease and was considered to be of exportable quality, but no further shipments have occurred. In this paper the technical and financial viability of exporting fresh ginger from Papua New Guinea to New Zealand was assessed in terms of the following criteria: technical capability of meeting market requirements for consistency in quality and volume and dealing with quarantine and other market access issues; market opportunities for growth and sustainability; financial investments required and how they will be financed; and organisational/management capability of coordinating the ginger supply chain from farm to markets overseas. The conclusion was that exports of Papua New Guinea fresh ginger into the New Zealand market would be both technically and financially infeasible. In contrast, the Papua New Guinea domestic market has considerable potential with the demand for ginger, as well as other fresh produce, set to increase substantially in the next few years due to the up-coming PNG LNG Project and other mining activities. A broad-based agricultural development program for fresh produce for the domestic market would better meet the needs of Papua New Guinea farmers than would an export emphasis.  

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