News

Temu highly impressed with NARI’s contribution
7th April 2005

by Seniorl Anzu

Lands and Physical Planning Minister Dr Puka Temu has highly commended the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) for the way it was responding to the government’s policy directives.

He was commenting on NARI’s response to the Manam Volcanic Disaster and to the government’s export driven economic recovery policy.

“I commend you for this very excellent effort in comprehensively addressing this issue. It demonstrates the ability of our premier agricultural research institute to use research based information across the sectors and to respond to the government’s directives,” Dr Temu said.

NARI has prepared a report detailing short term and long term interventions to assist the resettled Manam islanders. This report was prepared following a visit to assess the situation at the care centers by a team of its scientists last December. NARI Director General Dr Raghunath Ghodake and NARI Council Chairman Dr John Kola presented this report to Dr Temu last Tuesday in Port Moresby along with a report on NARI’s contribution to the government’s export driven economic recovery policy.

Dr Temu was highly impressed with the reports. He said: “This is the way state agencies need to respond. They need to immediately translate policies into programmes so that action is taken.”

The Manam report proposed cultivation of high yielding crops and vegetables and livestock farming as short term interventions to assist them with their food security, nutrition and income. Potential short-term food crops and vegetables suggested included aibika, taro, rice, corn, African Yam, cassava, and sweet potato. Livestock recommended was Australorp chickens and rabbits. All these could be easily obtained from NARI.

The report stated that with the relief supplies and funding anticipated to decline over the next few months it was imperative for the evacuees to prepare to supplement their food in the event of shortfalls.

For long term interventions, the report states that “a systematic agricultural development plan is essential”.

The report states that NARI could help to develop this plan using its technical expertise. It could assist by:

  1. carrying out a detailed feasibility study on agricultural development, potentials and options
  2. land use survey using geographical information systems
  3. designing and developing model agricultural systems including land development such as drainage, irrigation, soil fertility improvement
  4. farmer training in needed areas of agriculture and
  5. development of community based resource centers in the area.

The briefing ended with the presentation of the NARI staff contribution of K5374.72 for the Manam and Asian disasters.