An official in Papua New Guinea's Eastern Highlands province says the area has seen a 50 percent drop in agricultural production because of the current drought.
Eastern Highlands, Papua New Guinea. Photo: RNZI / Annell Husband
The secretary of the Eastern Highlands Agriculture Society, Solepa Thomas Arganisafa, says the province is experiencing a decrease in many staple crops.
He says the prolonged drought has greatly affected mostly subsistence famers who rely heavily on agriculture to generate income.
He told the newspaper, The National, demand is far exceeding supply and the produce prices have skyrocketed in recent months, which is now also affecting urban centres.
Mr Arganisafa says the government's move to partially lift a ban on the import of vegetables is welcome.