According to the National Health Department, many Papua New Guineans will die before they reach the age of sixty five, the life expectancy of an average Papua New Guinean.
That was the centre of discussion during the World Food Day celebration in Goroka on Wednesday.
The focus of Agricultural Agencies and the Health Department has been on the eating habits of Papua New Guineans that has greatly changed in recent times.
Many people have resorted to eating fast foods that are almost become readily available on the streets.
Wilson Karoke, a Nutritionist from the National Health Department said this as also contributed towards Papua New Guinea’s highest malnutrition rate in the Asia Pacific Region.
“With the movement of people from the traditional society into a new society, people changed their eating habit and their dieting habits, and changed their preferences of food,” said Karoke.
Mr. Karoke said more people will become old quickly as they become extremely ignorant about what they eat.
That has also been the concern of Agriculture Agencies that focus mainly on addressing this problem through Agricultural work.
While many Papua New Guineans might become incautious about what they eat, institutions like NARI and Fresh Produce Development Agencies have been developing Agricultural innovations that encourage and remind people about the dangers of eating unhealthy food.
EMTV