Wet Lowlands Islands
Keravat
The Wet Lowlands Islands Programme (WLIP) of the National Agricultural Research Institute is based at the Lowlands Agricultural Experiment Station (LAES) at Keravat on the Gazelle Peninsula of the East New Britain Province. It services the agricultural research needs of the five Islands provinces of East New Britain, West New Britain, New Ireland, Manus and North Solomons.
The provinces comprise a distinct geographic, ethnic and political area with similar flora and fauna. Characterised by having significant areas of plantation agriculture, particularly cocoa, coconuts and oil palm, there is potential for alternative cash cropping. There are some pockets of high population density areas and typical agricultural problems are found on atolls.
Research Focus
The major research focus for LAES Keravat is on emerging cash crops, fruits and nuts, including ideogenous species, natural resources management, integrated production systems, pest and disease management, and post harvest processing.
Adaptive and participatory research is conducted both on-station and on-farm to test crops and cropping systems in a range of agro-ecological zones with different soil types, climates and altitudes and under farmer conditions.
Germplasm collections of food and cash crops are maintained in the field and in tissue culture. An insect collection comprised mainly of crop pests is held for the Islands Region. A number of Pacific regional projects are currently being undertaken at the station.
Current research activities of LAES address priority needs and aspirations of farmers and other stakeholders. Research is managed according to Areas of Research Opportunity (AROs).
These include the following:
| Alternative Cash Crops | Vanilla, Nutmeg, Pepper, Turmeric, Cardamom, Balsa. |
| Vegetables | Pitpit, Aibika. |
| Staple Crops | Sweet Potato, Taro, Singapore Taro, Banana, Cassava. |
| Fruits and Nuts | Indigenous nuts (Galip, Okari and Pau). |
| Natural Resource Management | Agricultural intensification/soil fertility maintenance, Atoll agriculture research and development, Plant derived Pesticides. |
| Integrated Production Systems | Cocoa and Coconut Farming System, Intercropping of cocoa with food and alternative cash crops. |
| Commercialisation | Cocoa and other alternative cash crops (balsa, nutmeg, pepper, turmeric, okari, galip and taun). |
| Training, information and Outreach | Farmer training, publication and information exchange, library service, RRDAC meeting, open day, field day, and market day. |
| Rice, Grains & Pulses | Maize. |
Adaptive participatory research is conducted both on station and on farm to test crops and cropping systems in a range of agro-ecological zones with different soil types, climates and altitudes and under farmer conditions.
Germplasm collections of food and cash crops are maintained in the field and in tissue culture. An insect collection comprised mainly of crop pests is held for the Islands Region. A number of Pacific regional projects are currently being undertaken at the station.
For further information, Contact
NARI Wet Lowlands Islands Programme
P.O Box 204, KOKOPO
East New Britian Province
Papua New Guinea
Phone: (675) 983 9145
Fax: (675) 983 9129
Email: nariwlip@nari.org.pg