PGR News from the Pacific

Posted 12:49 PM by Luigi

Prosperous PNG Through Agricultural Development

Text of a recent newspaper article from PNG.

The National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) will start the new year with a sharpened vision. In a recent meeting on 17th December 2004 the NARI Council approved NARI’s revised vision and mission statement for Papua New Guinea’s development. The reworded vision is “Prosperous PNG Agricultural Communities”.

This is a broad and long-term vision of what the Institute expects to happen. Explaining the vision, NARI Director General Dr Raghunath Ghodake said: “The word ‘prosperous’ implies economic, social, cultural well-being of all residents of PNG. Such prosperity should be reflected through a much improved and higher level of human development index (HDI) in PNG.”

Reference to “agricultural communities”, he said in its wider sense, implies that the prosperity of all in PNG will be realised through wealth creation and sustainable broad based growth through agricultural development.

“As more than 85 percent of today’s 5.4 million people in PNG depend directly or indirectly on agriculture, the prosperity of agricultural communities will be paramount in realising the prosperity of all in PNG. If these communities are prosperous, all in PNG and nation as whole will be prosperous.”

The above rationale is based on the Institute’s assertion that agriculture is the most important sector in the Papua New Guinea economy. This is not only because of the vast majority’s dependence on agriculture but also because of the sector’s tremendous untapped potential.

Dr Ghodake said: “This potential is not only to assure food security, improve cash incomes and provide comfortable livelihoods but also to bring total prosperity and full development to the country.

He said it follows then that the agriculture sector must be targeted for development if the nation is to prosper and become one of the developed nations of the world.

While the agriculture sector is important, agricultural research and improved technologies and knowledge are seen to be the most critical catalytic agents in promoting agricultural development, broad-based economic growth and sustainable rural development.

In view of this the NARI Council agreed that NARI’s reworded mission statement would be to “Promote innovative agricultural development in Papua New Guinea through scientific research, knowledge creation and information exchange."

Dr Ghodake said the word “promote” is used to indicate positive and pro-active action in the application and adoption of exiting and new “knowledge” for agricultural development.

“Such development is realised through new and innovative ideas, processes, approaches and technologies. Such technologies and knowledge arise from the information collected, generated and assessed through scientific research, adaptation of existing knowledge and communication amongst all actors in the agriculture sector.”



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PAPGREN coordination and support IPGRI ACIAR NZAID CTA SPC PAPGREN CEPaCT Click on the thumbnail to see a map of the locations of Pacific genebanks. Click here to download a regional directory of genebanks in the Pacific, including information on their location, contact details and holdings. PAPGREN partners Mr William Wigmore Director of Research Ministry of Agriculture Department of Resources & Development P.O. Box 96 Rarotonga Cook Islands Tel: (682) 28711-29720 Fax: (682) 21881 Email: cimoa@oyster.net.ck Mr Adelino S. Lorens Chief Agriculture Pohnpei Office of Economic Affairs P.O. Box 1028 Kolonia Pohnpei 96941 Federated States of Micronesia Tel: (691) 3202400 Fax: (691) 3202127 Email: pniagriculture@mail.fm Dr Lois Englberger Island Food Community of Pohnpei Research Advisor P.O. Box 2299 Kolonia Pohnpei 96941 Federated States of Micronesia Email: nutrition@mail.fm Mr Apisai Ucuboi Director of Research Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forest Koronivia Research Station P.O. 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Box 14 Nuku'alofa Tonga Tel: (676) 23038 Fax: (676) 24271 Email: thaangana@hotmail.com Mr Frazer Bule Lehi Head of Research Department of Agriculture & Rural Development Private Mail Bag 040 Port Vila Vanuatu Tel: (678) 22525 Fax: (678) 25265 Email: flehi@hotmail.com Other links Other CROP agencies Forum Secretariat University of the South Pacific SPREP Pacific biodiversity Biodiversity hotspots Breadfruit Institute Hawaiian native plants Intellectual property rights Nature Conservancy PBIF PestNet SIDS WWF South Pacific Program Other Pacific organizations Foundation of the Peoples of the South Pacific Micronesian Seminar Te Puna web directory Pacific news Cafe Pacific CocoNET Wireless Island Directory Pacific Islands News Pacific Islands Report Pacific Islands Travel Pacific Time South Pacific travel Time Pacific Interested in GIS? DIVA-GIS	Thursday, January 20, 2005 Posted 12:49 PM by Luigi Prosperous PNG Through Agricultural Development Text of a recent newspaper article from PNG. The National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) will start the new year with a sharpened vision. In a recent meeting on 17th December 2004 the NARI Council approved NARI’s revised vision and mission statement for Papua New Guinea’s development. The reworded vision is “Prosperous PNG Agricultural Communities”. This is a broad and long-term vision of what the Institute expects to happen. Explaining the vision, NARI Director General Dr Raghunath Ghodake said: “The word ‘prosperous’ implies economic, social, cultural well-being of all residents of PNG. Such prosperity should be reflected through a much improved and higher level of human development index (HDI) in PNG.” Reference to “agricultural communities”, he said in its wider sense, implies that the prosperity of all in PNG will be realised through wealth creation and sustainable broad based growth through agricultural development. “As more than 85 percent of today’s 5.4 million people in PNG depend directly or indirectly on agriculture, the prosperity of agricultural communities will be paramount in realising the prosperity of all in PNG. If these communities are prosperous, all in PNG and nation as whole will be prosperous.” The above rationale is based on the Institute’s assertion that agriculture is the most important sector in the Papua New Guinea economy. This is not only because of the vast majority’s dependence on agriculture but also because of the sector’s tremendous untapped potential. Dr Ghodake said: “This potential is not only to assure food security, improve cash incomes and provide comfortable livelihoods but also to bring total prosperity and full development to the country. He said it follows then that the agriculture sector must be targeted for development if the nation is to prosper and become one of the developed nations of the world. While the agriculture sector is important, agricultural research and improved technologies and knowledge are seen to be the most critical catalytic agents in promoting agricultural development, broad-based economic growth and sustainable rural development. In view of this the NARI Council agreed that NARI’s reworded mission statement would be to “Promote innovative agricultural development in Papua New Guinea through scientific research, knowledge creation and information exchange." Dr Ghodake said the word “promote” is used to indicate positive and pro-active action in the application and adoption of exiting and new “knowledge” for agricultural development. “Such development is realised through new and innovative ideas, processes, approaches and technologies. Such technologies and knowledge arise from the information collected, generated and assessed through scientific research, adaptation of existing knowledge and communication amongst all actors in the agriculture sector.” * Comments: Post a Comment	Archive October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 January 2010 RSS Feed Alternative feed Contact Tevita Something new: Agrobiodiversity Weblog: For discussions of conservation and sustainable use of the genetic resources of crops, livestock and their wild relatives. 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