Natural Resource Management

Agriculture growth in the highlands could be a catalyst for broad-based economic growth and development as agriculture sustains more than 85% of the population in this region. Food insecurity in its transitory and chronic forms is a real threat in the highlands. There is a general consensus that the root cause of food insecurity is poverty. Food security is threatened by various factors and their interactive effects. Natural resourcemanagement (NRM) has emerged as an important global issue in securing enhanced food and feed production and secured livelihoods with minimal adverse effects on the environment. Natural resources are vital to the livelihoods of people as they depend on them for their sustenance. They can also create relationships of cooperation and conflict. Natural resource management is therefore crucial.

Increasing food production must not only be maintained but also increased preferably in a sustainable manner to meet the increasing food demands of burgeoning PNG populations. Evaluating agriculture capability of a parcel of land and the sustainability of agricultural production practices on that land, taking into account all pertinent factors, is important to achieving NRM while maintaining or increasing food production.

The main components of NRM research are:

  1. Crop diversification:
    Farmers in the highlands need new crops that can withstand drought with good yielding ability. They need to adapt to relevant technologies in a given farming system. We have identified superior sweet potato and cassava varieties that perform well under different moisture stress conditions. Promising varieties were evaluated on- station and on-farm. Crop diversification with legumes helps the poor and marginalised. We are evaluating 38 medium - and short-duration peanut genotypes for suitability in various agro-ecological conditions.
  2. Integrated nutrient management:
    Soil, water and nutrients nexus is very well known for enhanced and sustainable productivity. However, most farmers in the highlands apply chemical fertilisers to their cash crops in order to harvest decent yields. Chemical fertilisers are amongst the most costly inputs and there is a need to search for other alternatives or supplement sources to overcome nutrient constraints. We are looking into various integrated nutrient management options like green-manure, compost, 7 legume introduction and biofertilisers to help overcome nutrient deficiencies in a more sustainable and user friendly manner.
  3. Identification and adaptation of simple soil and water management technologies
    including irrigation technologies.
  4. Demonstration and extension of appropriate technologies through on-farm studies.
  5. Weather monitoring:
    Collection and maintenance of hourly and daily weather data for Aiyura. Assistance with data requests to various stake holders and research organizations


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 or john.bailey@nari.org.pg