News
NARI Tambul delivers at Hagen Expo
18th December 2006
by Seniorl Anzu
The four-day Expo at the new Mount Hagen Market prior to its recent opening created a single biggest avenue in the City for farmers and rural communities to learn a range of research and development initiatives undertaken by the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) to address food security issues.
NARI's Tambul based High Altitude Highlands Programme (HAHP) displayed its activities with posters and publications from December 6-9, 2006. These included activities on potato late blight management; development of emerging crops such as wheat and pyrethrum, livestock development and screening of sweet potato varieties for early maturity. There were also demonstrations of appropriate technologies such as wheat milling using simple machinery for alternative food and livestock feed.
More than 10, 000 people who passed through the NARI stall learnt from NARI's work, which included other improved food crop varieties such as hybrid taros, drought tolerant cassava varieties and the famous African yam supplied by NARI Bubia for the occasion.
Joana Galuwa of NARI making a point on handling harvested pyrethrum during the Mt Hagen Market Expo
Scientists from NARI Tambul were at hand to respond to farmer queries and provide explanation on better farming practices using new and improved techniques. These work are aimed at addressing food security issues in the high altitude and highland areas. Emphasis was also placed on food recovery efforts using early maturing varieties of common food crops during food shortage.
A number of early maturing sweet potato or kaukau varieties evaluated for high altitudes, which can give high yielding and good qualities within six months were showcased. Kaukau in this region usually takes 9-12 months to mature and is sensitive to frost.
The display of the reintroduced Andean Tuber crop was another attraction. Many were surprised to see this unpopular frost resistant crop assessed to reduce the risk of frost to food security. During periods of frosts (and drought), this crop can be consumed by humans, but can be a good feed for pigs at normal times.
Research on managing the potato late blight epidemic is another major focus of HAHP. A head-on approach in field research is being undertaken by NARI to manage this disease through screening of potato varieties tolerant to the disease, and evaluation of fungicides and cultural control methods. At the Expo, potato farmers were eager to see and learn about some of the 36 introduced varieties displayed.
A range of information on NARI's work was shared and given away, including those of research and development initiatives at the Bubia, Labu and Aiyura programmes. These included rice and grain, spice, livestock breeding and feed formulation, vegetable production, pest and disease control, drought coping strategies, food processing and post harvest, and plant genetic resources.
There were other agricultural organisations showcasing some of their services. Among them were the Fresh Produce Development Agency and Alele Fresh Produce Limited.