NARI Research and Development Projects
Food Crops Management and Improvement
6. Rice Varieties for the Lowlands and Highlands of PNG
The major objectives of the project are to provide technical information on the production, mechanisation, and marketing of rice and other grain crops by conducting relevant applied research on the feasibility of various technologies. These technologies include production methodologies, selection of suitable varieties, pest and disease management, farm mechanisation, post harvest handling and storage, marketing economics and consumer demand and preference.
One of the main activities of the rice research program is the identification of high yielding upland varieties with good eating and cooking qualities, tolerant to insect pests and diseases. NARI has obtained a range of varieties from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and these varieties were first evaluated in a series of on-station trials during July 2003 to Dec 2004 and identified NR 1, 9, 15 and 16 as promising lines. These varieties were advanced into multi-location trials (GxE trials) to test grain yielding in lowland and upland environments during 2004-05 and released to farmers.
Current activities include continuation of evaluation for improved varieties for agronomic traits, research on village milling and post harvest, quality seed production, germplasm conservation, information sharing and farmer training in both lowland and highland areas.
Project Funder: Public Investment Programme (PNG Government)
Implementing Programme: Crop and Livestock Improvement
Project Cordination Centre: Highlands (Aiyura) and Momase (Bubia) Regional Centres
Project Partners: Department of Agriculture and Livestock, PNG University of Technology, Trukai Industries and IRRI (Philippines)
Project Duration: October 2005 - December 2009
