Promising rice varieties for the PNG highlands

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Two cool tolerant rice varieties imported from overseas and screened for the PNG highlands are doing well in the Aiyura area of Eastern Highlands province. Research by NARI is showing promising results and farmers are already getting the seeds from NARI and cultivating the crop.

NARI Aiyura Research Programme Leader Dr Rakesh Kapila said that the two varieties can yield better under PNG conditions with an average of three tones per hectare. He said even on better soil conditions, they can yield up to six tones a hectare, which is better than international standards.
 
The two rice varieties (IRGC 77426 and IRGC 77427) were among 39 that were imported from the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines and were trialed at Aiyura. Among this research were other local highlands varieties such as Golden Mountain, Thai Big, MT APO and lowland variety TCS 10. Read more...

Organic farming on spotlight

Tuesday, June 11, 2009

Organic agriculture is rapidly growing all over the world and this provides an unprecedented opportunity to systematically plan its future in PNG and the Pacific, says NARI Principle Economist Dr Keshav Kshirsagar.
“Overseas markets are showing tremendous interest in organic agriculture in the Pacific and it is essential to ensurethat farmers are empowered to take advantage of the emerging opportunities offered by the continuously rising organic product markets all over the world, particularly in USA and EU,” he said.

And the good news is this has gained recognition in recent years from member countries with support of regional and international organisations after the Pacific Island community has missed out on marketing organically grown foods for many years. Read more...

Commissioner Moraitis supports Agri for development agenda

Monday, June 1, 2009

Agriculture should be acknowledged as an agenda for Papua New Guinea’s socio economic development, said Australian High Commissioner to PNG Chris Moraitis. During a briefing with management and staff of NARI in Lae on May 28 2009, Mr Moraitis applauded the Institute’s agricultural research for development (AR4D) approach which he said could contribute to improving other sectors. He also emphasised the Australian Government’s ongoing support for agricultural research for development.

“Australian Government through the High Commission, AusAID and particularly ACIAR (Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research) are very cognisant of the involvement of agricultural research and agriculture as agenda for development issues,” Mr Moraitis.
“People can acknowledge agriculture as an important agenda for Papua New Guinea’s socio economic development as it covers other agendas of the Government such as law and order, health and education,” he said. Read more...

Korean Gov't invests in PNG agro-tourism project

Monday, May 25, 2009

The Korean Government will invest a total of US$58, 900 in a new village movement concept, focusing on agricultural and eco-tourism development which will be trialed at Gabengsis village in the Huon District of Morobe province. The pilot project will include the production and processing of yam and construction of a yam-based tourism facility known as “Saemaul Eco-lodge”.

A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed between Korea’s University-Industry Cooperation Foundation (UICF) of Kangwon National University and PNG’s National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) on May 22, 2009, to pave the way for this collaborative initiative. Read more...

PNG requires new interventions to address climate change: Ogio

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Papua New Guinea should look at new interventions in its policy initiatives to tackle the impact of climate change on agriculture and rural societies, Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Michael Ogio, said when giving the keynote address at the 2009 Agricultural Innovations Show at Bubia outside Lae on May 5, 2009. Mr Ogio said the issues of global warming and climate change are real and have already affected PNG agriculture in the last 50 years and more interventions are required for mitigation and adaptation.

“It is essential that the well-perceived interventions be embedded in new policy initiatives under the National Strategic Plan 2010-2050,” Mr Ogio said. 
“Some of the interventions can be: 1) credit, input supplies and quality assurance; 2) crop insurance and minimum support price/ organised procurement/ marketing; 3) stabilisation funds; and 4) appropriate type of subsidies.” Read more...

 

 

Home Page

• About Us
• Research Programmes
• Technical Programmes
• Projects
• Information
• Job Vacancies
• Links
• Site Map
• Contact Us

Comments & Suggestions

• Email NARI
• Webmaster
• Web Counter