Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea occupies the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous surrounding islands, with a total land area of about 463,000 km². The country’s geography is dominated by rugged mountain ranges, extensive tropical rainforests and wide river systems such as the Sepik and Fly. Much of the interior rises above 2,000 metres, while lowland plains and coastal zones provide the main areas suitable for cultivation. The climate is tropical, with high humidity and annual rainfall often exceeding 2,500–4,000 mm, supporting dense vegetation but also complicating infrastructure development and agricultural expansion.

Human settlement dates back more than 40,000 years, making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited regions in the world. Traditional subsistence agriculture and agroforestry systems have long shaped land use. Following periods of German, British and Australian administration, Papua New Guinea gained independence in 1975. Today, the primary sector remains central to livelihoods, with the majority of the population engaged in small-scale farming.

Agriculture accounts for roughly 20–25% of GDP and employs about 80% of the population in subsistence or semi-commercial production. Only about 2–3% of the land area is arable, although shifting cultivation systems extend over a much larger share of the landscape. Coffee is the most important export crop, with annual production typically ranging between 800,000 and 1 million bags. Other major cash crops include cocoa, with output often around 40,000–50,000 tonnes per year, and palm oil, which has expanded significantly and generally exceeds 500,000 tonnes annually. Coconut cultivation also supports copra production, while staple crops such as sweet potatoes, taro, yams and bananas underpin domestic food supply. Livestock production is relatively small, with pigs playing a culturally and economically important role.

Forests cover approximately 70–75% of the land area, equivalent to more than 33 million hectares, making Papua New Guinea one of the most heavily forested countries in the world. The forestry sector produces roughly 3–4 million cubic metres of logs annually, much of it for export. Tropical hardwoods form the basis of the timber industry, although sustainable management remains a key challenge.

Marine resources are also significant due to the country’s extensive Exclusive Economic Zone of about 2.4 million km². Fisheries production is estimated at around 300,000–400,000 tonnes annually, including both subsistence coastal fishing and industrial offshore tuna fisheries. Aquaculture is still limited but includes small-scale freshwater fish farming.

Overall, Papua New Guinea’s primary sector reflects the interaction between mountainous terrain, extensive forest cover and rich marine environments, with subsistence agriculture dominating rural livelihoods while commercial crops, forestry and fisheries contribute to export earnings.

Gerold spent 2018 two days in Port Moresby.