About Us
The National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) was established by an Act (NARI Act 1996) of National Parliament of Papua New Guinea (PNG) as a publicly-funded statutory research organisation for conducting applied and development-oriented research on food crops, emerging food and cash crops, livestock and resource management issues. The major targets are the smallholder, semi-subsistence, semi-commercial and commercial farmers and rural communities in the country.
Besides applied and adaptive research, NARI is responsible for providing authoritative technical, analytical and diagnostic services and up-to-date information to the agricultural sector in PNG.
Our Logo
The letters NARI are the initials of the National Agricultural Research Institute.
The picture of 'People' symbolises those included in the mandate of NARI such as farmers, researchers,
extension agents, partners, NGOs, etc., backed with Blue to encompass
the sky and the macro environment.
The picture of a 'Leaf' symbolises crops, backed with Green
to depict the crop environment.
The pictures of a 'Pig' and a 'Chicken' heads symbolise livestock. The
Red background portrays the toil and sweat of the people.
Our Vision
In our vision for PNG, we foresee "Prosperous PNG Agricultural Communities."
The word "prosperous" implies economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being of all residents of PNG. Reference to "agricultural communities", in its wider sense, means that the prosperity of all in PNG will be realised through wealth creation and sustainable broad-based economic growth from agricultural development.
As more than 85 percent of today’s 5.5 million people in PNG depend directly on agriculture, the prosperity of agricultural communities will be paramount in realising the prosperity of all in PNG.
The above rationale is based on the Institute’s assertion that agriculture is the most important
sector in the Papua New Guinea economy. This is not only because of the vast majority’s
dependence on agriculture but also because of the sector’s tremendous untapped potential.
This potential is not only to assure food security, improve cash incomes and provide
comfortable livelihoods but also to bring total prosperity and full development to the
country. It follows then that the agriculture sector must be targeted for development
if the nation is to prosper and become one of the developed nations of the world.
NARI has a specific mission and a set of objectives to enable the realization of its vision for the agriculture sector and the nation.
Our Mission
While the agriculture sector is important, agricultural research and improved technologies and knowledge are seen to be the most critical catalytic agents in promoting agricultural development, broad-based economic growth and sustainable rural development, through empowering people.
Our mission therefore is "To promote innovative agricultural development in Papua New Guinea through scientific research, knowledge creation and information exchange."
The word "promote" is used to include affirmative and pro-active action in the application and adoption of existing and new "knowledge" for agricultural development. Such development is realised through new and innovative ideas, processes, approaches and technologies. These technologies and knowledge arise from the information collected, generated and assessed through scientific research, adaptation of existing knowledge and communication amongst all actors in the agriculture sector.
Our Current Mandate
- Conduct development-oriented applied research focused on staple food crops, emerging cash and food crops, village livestock and natural resource management in the context of integrated farming systems.
- Focus research and information efforts on smallholder semi-subsistence farming and rural communities so that these efforts can directly assist this neglected sector and bring about well-balanced and widespread economic growth.
- Contribute to the development of human resources by training and developing scientific and technical capacity, to develop science, knowledge and technology-based agriculture in PNG.
Our Functions
Our principle functions are to:
- Generate, adapt and promote the use of appropriate and improved agricultural technologies,
- Provide essential technical and analytical services for development of the agriculture sector,
- Develop and promote ways of improving quality, post-harvest handling, processing and marketing of crop and livestock produce,
- Maintain, conserve and utilise the diversity of genetic resources for agricultural development,
- Update and maintain a national inventory on land resources and agricultural/farming systems and recommend appropriate uses and management of these resources
- Develop appropriate farming methods and practices for the improvement of smallholder semi-subsistence agriculture,
- Provide agricultural information services, extension service support and other technical assistance to the agriculture sector,
- Draw attention to constraints to the sustainable development of smallholder agriculture, and
- Formulate national agricultural research policies, define sectoral research priorities and recommend on the allocation of funds for agricultural research.
Organisational Structure
NARI is included in the portfolio of the PNG Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology. In accordance with the NARI 1996 Act, the Institute is governed by an Institute Council.
NARI Governing Council
NARI Council Members 2006-2009
Standing
- Anthon Benjamin, Clement Kote, Raghunath Ghodake, Joseph Tomerop,
Samson Akoitai
Sitting
- Maria Linibi, David Loh, John Kola, Rosa Kambuou, Lance Hill
Representation and Current Membership on NARI Council
| Name | Position | Representation | |
| 1. | Dr John Kola | Chairman | Smallholder farmers, Southern Region |
| 2. | Professor Lance Hill, OBE | Deputy Chairman | University of Papua New Guinea |
| 3. | Mr David Loh | Member | PNG Growers' Associations |
| 4. | Mrs Maria Linibi | Member | Smallholder - women smallholder farmers |
| 5. | Mr Joseph Tomerop | Member | Smallholder farmers - Highlands Region |
| 6. | Dr Samson Akoita | Member | PNG University of Technology |
| 7. | Mr Simon Tosali | Member (ex-officio) | Acting Secretary - Finance and Treasury |
| 8. | Mr Anton Benjamin | Member (ex-officio) | Secretary - Department of Agriculture and Livestock |
| 9. | Dr Raghunath Ghodake | Member (ex-officio) | Director-General, National Agricultural Research Institute |
| 10. | Mr Rosa Kambou | Observer | Staff Representative - National Agricultural Reserach Institute |
NARI Executive Management
The Executive Management is comprised of the Director-General and Deputy Director-General and is responsible for the management of the Institute, in accordance with policy directions from the Institute Council.
- Dr. Raghunath Ghodake
Director-General
Deputy Director-General - Vacant
The day-to-day management and co-ordination of research, technical and information programmes from NARI Headquarters and Field Programmes is undertaken currently by a team of following senior staff:
- Dr. Segie Bang
Director of Research - Vacant
Chief Scientist - Dr. Birte Nass-Komolong
Research Co-ordinator - Mr. Alai Simin
Information & Events Co-ordinator - Mrs. Norah Omot
Leader Research Planning and Programming (on study-leave) - Mr. Arthur Amot
Senior Accountant - Mr. Anthony Woyengu
Acting Manager-Personnel and Administration - Mr. Thomas Omot
Principle Physical Facilities Planner -
Mr. Sami Haenere
Assistant Manager - Ms. Barbara Tomi
Scientific Editor
NARI Main Programmes
NARI has four main programmes:
Research
Programme:
subdivided into two distinct regions (highlands and lowlands)
comprising four agro climatological zones (dry lowlands, wet lowlands, main highlands
and high-altitude highlands). The biggest region, Wet Lowlands is further divided
into Mainland and Islands programmes.
Technical
Programme:
technical, analytical and advisory services such as chemical
analysis and testing, land-use planning and advice, pest and disease diagnostics,
biometrics, scientific editing, and advice on economic and social issues.
Information and Outreach
Programme:
information transfer, outreach linkages,
publications, information centres, resource centres, training and advisory services
and supply materials.
Corporate Programme:
human resource management and development, corporate planning
and business development, physical planning and information management, financial
and asset management.
Currently, the following scientists/managers are leading NARI's main programmes:
- Mr. Tony Ovia
Research Programme Manager
Dry Lowlands Programme coordinated from Laloki, Central Province - Mr. Elick Guaf
Acting Research Programme Leader
Wet Lowlands – Mainland coordinated from Bubia, Morobe Province - Dr. John Moxon
Research Programme Leader
Wet Lowlands – Island Programme coordinated from Lowlands Agricultural Experiment Station, Keravat, East New Britain Province - Dr. Akkinapally Ramakrishna
Research Programme Leader
Main Highlands Programme coordinated from Highlands Agricultural Research Experiment Station, Aiyura - Mr. Martin Gunther
Research Programme Leader
High – Altitude Highlands Programme coordinated from Tambul, Western Highlands Province - Dr. Workneh Ayalew
Research Programme Leader
Livestock Research Programme coordinated from Labu, Moro be Province - Mrs. Rosa Kambuou
Principle Scientist - Genetic Resources
Genetic Resources coordinated from laloki, Central Province. - Mr. Peter Corbett
Laboratory Manager
National Agricultural Chemistry Laboratory, Kilakila. - Dr. Guinevere Ortiz
Principle Scientist - Post Harvest
Wet Lowlands – Mainland coordinated from Bubia, Morobe Province - Dr. John Bailey
Principle Scientist - National Resource Management
Main Highlands Program, Aiyura, Eastern Highlands Province - Dr. Solomon Balagawi
Principle Scientist - FruitFly
Dry Lowlands Program, Laloki, Central Province
View NARI's Organisational Chart
[click here]
History
The developmental initiative for NARI goes back to the early 1990s when the Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL) promoted the idea of establishing an independent research organisation for the food and livestock sector in Papua New Guinea. This idea arose because research and research-related technical functions carried out by DAL were seriously constrained by lack of funds, shortage of trained personnel, bureaucratic obstacles, inadequate institutional and infrastructure arrangements, and ineffective linkages with extension services, farmers and development agencies.
Under the Government's 1996 Medium-Term Development Strategy, NARI became one of the major initiatives towards contributing to and realising sustainable development in the agriculture sector. The Institute was officially launched on 5th May 1997, and formally took over the research and research-related technical functions of DAL in June 1998.
Since its establishment, NARI came under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock
and NARI council reported directly to the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock on
matters concerning the Institute. With effect from September 2002, NARI was
transferred to the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology.