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PNG partners trained in FAO horticulture database
by Seniorl Anzu (27/07/09)
Thirty one new partners have so far been trained in PNG to contribute and retrieve information on horticultural crops using an online database, Hortivar, of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations. This follows the 4th Hortivar workshop conducted in Mt Hagen, Western Highlands Province, early this year in which nine partners were trained.
“All partners are now aware of the Hortivar online database and can contribute or retrieve information about horticultural crops of PNG,” says Jimmy Maro, Hortivar PNG coordinator and workshop facilitator.
Hortivar is an online database or information system on performances of horticulture cultivars in relation to environmental conditions and crop cultivation practices. It is a tool for knowledge management, which serves as a standard methodology for data collection and record keeping, and is also a powerful search engine for easy retrieval and comparison of information.
Mr Maro said of the 31 new partners, 19 are active members of the Hortivar database with over 350 horticultural crops already posted on Hortivar database which are accessible via the Hortivar website (www.fao.org/hortivar).
“The total horticultural crop information is expected to increase to over 500 once all information gathered is posted on the database. The website is currently online and can be accessed by anyone wanting to learn or obtain information about the performance of horticultural crops grown in PNG.”
Mr Maro said through the training, the participants have had some exposure to basic knowledge and skills in developing database management systems such as the design and layout of a database and the compilation, collection and organisation of information. The Mt Hagen training, funded by FAO, was successfully conducted for the nine participants from the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Livestock, Fresh Produce Development Agency, Highlands Agricultural Training Institute (HATI) and NARI, all based in WHP.
“The major aim of the workshop was to make participants aware of the Hortivar database project, conduct a hands-on training on database use and to compile new horticultural crops cultivated in PNG,” Mr Maro said.
“Four of the total nine partners contributed a total of 200 datasets following the workshop. Most cultivars were contributed by staff of NARI based at the High Altitude Highland Programme in Tambul, followed by HATI near Mt Hagen.
“The crops contributed comprised root crops, vegetables and grains. The majority of entries were sourced from internal NARI publications and student projects conducted at the HATI training college,” said Mr Maro.
He said a key highlight of the workshop was that the participants now appreciate the value of database systems, such as the Hortivar database, which are important for dissemination and sharing of vital agricultural information to the wider public both in-country and overseas. Some participants raised concern that vast amounts of information have been generated over the years but are either inaccessible or unavailable as a result of poor information management systems for managing and sharing these resources and the Hortivar initiative was vital to solve that problem.
Hortivar, a gateway to horticulture knowledge, has been conceived to serve as a tool for safeguarding information on the field performances of horticulture cultivars in relation to, among other things, their resistance to pests and diseases, market requirements and consumer preferences.