Highlands
Aiyura

The Highlands Programme (HP) is based in the Aiyura Valley, close to the township of Kainantu , Eastern Highlands Province. The programme is situated at an altitude of 1664m above sea level and caters for the research and food security needs of the people living in the main highlands region of Papua New Guinea. The highlands region hosts nearly 2 million people and occupies a land area of 51, 175 sq km (13.5% of PNG's total land area). It has a burgeoning population with a growth rate of about 3.6% higher than that of the national population growth average (2.7%). Most farming communities practice subsistence farming and live in remote areas with poor market access. The traditional staples are sweet potato, cassava, yam, taro, and banana. Robusta coffee is the main export crop. Other cash crops include peanut, sugar cane and various vegetable crops. Agricultural systems are subjected to intermittent drought, pest and disease and natural resource degradation problems.

Our mission is to address priority needs and aspirations of farmers and other stakeholders by developing:

  1. Economic production and marketing of staple food crops, vegetables and fruits
  2. Systems diversification to generate income and enhance employment
  3. Promotion of nutritive food and grain crops
  4. Improved livestock management techniques
  5. Natural resource management for sustaining productivity in the face of declining soil fertility; and
  6. Gender sensitive technologies to reduce drudgery

The above mission aims to help us realise the vision: “Improved well-being of the poor of the PNG highlands through agricultural research for impact”

Research Focus

Research activities are identified, prioritised and managed according to Areas of Research Opportunity (AROs). The major research focus of MHP is on natural resource management (soil, water, weather); integrated pest management (Oribius weevil); rice, grain and pulses improvement; plant genetic resources (sweet potato, banana, cassava), disaster mitigation, and tissue culture services.



For further information, Contact

Dr. A. Ramakrishna
NARI Main Highlands Programme
P.O Box 210, SIL, UKARUMPA
Eastern Highlands Province
Papua New Guinea

Phone: (675) 737 3500
Fax: (675) 737 3516
Email: a.ramakrishna@nari.org.pg