The Papua New Guinea (PNG) Government remains focused on agriculture sector as predictions presume an accumulation of K30 billion to the economy by 2030.
Agriculture research and development remains crucial as National Government envisions the agriculture sector to contribute.
The National Agriculture Sector Plan (NASP) serves as a blueprint showing how Papua New Guinea can grow its farming industry, aiding local farmers transform from growing food for survival to running commercial farming to achieve this ambitious vision.
The Comprehensive Research and Development is listed as an Agriculture Priority Area (APA) under the plan.
The National Government has tasked the National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI) to facilitate the creation of a National Agriculture Research Systems Policy Framework, Operationalizing the NASP.
Director General of NARI, Dr. Nelson Simbiken said the major loophole in the agriculture research space is a policy that clearly defines sectoral participation and investment in research for development.
“Research is key for development as it provides vital data that is needed by the government and investors, either small-scale or large commercial entities to maximize production.”
“Major investments in research and development in the 70s and 80s saw the creation of the current large-scale Oil Palm production, the famous Ramu Sugar and coconut among others.”
“We need to restore the attention for agricultural research,” Simbiken stressed.
NARI has brought together experts from the commodity boards and provincial agriculture representatives for a two-day (16/07/25-17/07/25) workshop on the NARS Policy Framework as an institution that is mandated to find solutions.
Joining the team at the Allan Quartermain Seminar Room at NARI’s Momase Regional Centre were representatives from the World Bank and the PNG Agriculture Commercialization and Diversification Project (PACD).
Meanwhile, Dr. Miok Komolong led the first Technical Working Group workshop last month.
Workable solutions will be formulated by technical working groups to address challenges in policy research and advocacy, agriculture commodities and markets, and agriculture extension and information systems.
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