NARI Nius - PNG National Agricultural Research Institute Nius A training course ... from the...

National Agricultural Research Institute

National Agricultural ResearchNational Agricultural ResearchNational Agricultural ResearchNational Agricultural ResearchNational Agricultural ResearchInstituteInstituteInstituteInstituteInstitutePPPPP.O. Box 4415.O. Box 4415.O. Box 4415.O. Box 4415.O. Box 4415LAE 411LAE 411LAE 411LAE 411LAE 411Morobe ProvinceMorobe ProvinceMorobe ProvinceMorobe ProvinceMorobe ProvincePapua New GuineaPapua New GuineaPapua New GuineaPapua New GuineaPapua New Guinea

Phone: (675) 472 1751/2Phone: (675) 472 1751/2Phone: (675) 472 1751/2Phone: (675) 472 1751/2Phone: (675) 472 1751/2Fax: (675) 472 2242Fax: (675) 472 2242Fax: (675) 472 2242Fax: (675) 472 2242Fax: (675) 472 2242Email: [email protected]: [email protected]: [email protected]: [email protected]: [email protected]: wwwebsite: wwwebsite: wwwebsite: wwwebsite: www.nari.or.nari.or.nari.or.nari.or.nari.org.pgg.pgg.pgg.pgg.pg

ISSN 1608-6554 Volume 5 Number 2 April - June 2002

Promoting Excellence in Agricultural Research

Fruit Fly Review .........................2

Aiyura Field Day ....................... 3

Drought ResponseOn-Farm ContigencyPlanning Workshop ...................3

El Nino Awareness Seminar ......3

Bougainville Farmers andExtension Officers Training....... 4

Western Province to Expand in Food Crop Production ......... 5

ACIAR Taro Beetle ProjectStaff Attend Training ................ 6

Regional On-FarmConservation Meeting .............. 6

Human Resource DevelopmentWorkshop ................................... 6

Traditional Rice Storage andPreservation Technology Usedin the Finschhafen District ....... 7

Taro Open Day .......................... 8

Daigin Resource Centre ............8

Technical Tips............................ 9

Forum .........................................10

Review Notice ...........................10

NARI Publications ......................11

NARI NiusNARI NiusNARI NiusNARI NiusNARI Nius

A training course for vanilla industry participants was conducted in Madang from 2 to 5 April 2002.The course was presented by Piero Bianchessi, a vanilla grower and exporter based in Vanuatu.Thecourse was supported by the Pacific Island Trade Commission and the Investment PromotionAuthority, and sponsored jointly by DAL, NAQIA and NARI.

Madang Vanilla Training a Success

Vanilla beans ready for hot water dipping

...continued to page 2...

The participants came from vanilla exporting companies, extension agencies and NGOs, as well asNAQIA, DAL and NARI. NARI was represented by Director-General Valentine Kambori, ChemistryLaboratory Manager Peter Corbett and Chief Scientist Dr Geoff Wiles.

The course covered both production and post-harvest aspects of vanilla, with particular emphasis onprocessing and curing techniques. Philip Pondikou, Acting Secretary DAL, delivered the openingaddress. Geoff Wiles gave an overview of vanilla production and constraints in PNG and the lessonslearned from an earlier workshop in Keravat. Peter Corbett explained analytical services availablefrom the National Agricultural Chemistry Laboratory for measuring vanillin content.

Technical information on vanilla production and processing was presented by Piero Bianchessi withthe help of excellent illustrations. His talk was accompanied by practical demonstrations of hot waterdipping (‘killing’ of beans), sweating and sun-drying. A highlight of the week was a field visit to theSpiceTech curing facility near Madang. Participants also visited the CCRI vanilla plots at Murunasand a village processing facility at Sein village.

Volume 5 Number 2 April - June 2002

2 Promoting Excellence in Agricultural Research

On the final day, Sam Himstedt of Queen Fine Foods describedthe difficulties he faces in securing a reliable supply of goodquality vanilla beans from PNG. It was clear that poorharvesting and curing practices lead to poor quality. Inaddition, exporters need to improve their business practicesand reliability in order to develop and maintain export markets.

Resolutions to Strengthen the Vanilla Industry inPNG

In addition to the technical sessions, the workshop provideda valuable opportunity for participants to examine ways toimprove the vanilla industry in PNG. There is a need forimproved availability of information, better regulation of theindustry through registration and monitoring of processorsand improved packaging and grading of cured beans. Inaddition there is a need for adaptive research and for betterinformation on the number and location of producers. Twenty-four resolutions were endorsed by the final session of themeeting, including a call for resurrection of the Spice IndustryBoard and appointment of Spice Inspectors to ensure thatexported vanilla is properly cured and meets internationalquality standards1 . The participants also agreed to develop aCode of Practice for the vanilla industry to assist in themaintenance of standards and quality.

Harvesting of Immature Beans

One key issue that became apparent during the meeting wasthat many growers are harvesting immature beans. Farmerswere strongly warned not to pick green unripe beans, sincesuch beans do not develop the characteristic vanilla odourwhen processed. A colour chart is now available to interestedgrowers or processors to show the correct stage at whichbeans should be harvested.

CD-ROM of the course presentations

The material presented during the course has been put on aCD-ROM for distribution to interested parties. Copies of theCD-ROM should be available shortly (contact NARI or IPA).

1A copy of the resolutions is available from Dr Geoff Wiles

([email protected]) at NARI HQ.

...continued from page 1...

Drying of vanilla beans at SpiceTech near Madang

The PNG Fruit Fly Project review was held at the LaeInternational Hotel from 21 - 23 May 2002.

About 200 species of fruit flies are found in PNG and sixty toseventy are yet to be described. The main objectives of thePNG Fruit Fly review were:

• Define fruit fly species by methods such as trappingwith male lures, host fruit surveys (including rainforesthabitats); identify specimens, curate (look at the goodand bad part of the specimen) and return the specimenback to PNG; find out where the fruit fly species arefound (geographic distribution) and seasonalabundances of pest species.

• Pest Risk Assessment to estimate the percentage offruit loss. Crops included are guava, carambola, bananaand coffee.

• Pre-Harvest Control Studies by conduct of field testson protein bait sprays and fruit bagging.

• Development of quarantine procedures to beestablished by a quarantine surveillance programthrough male lure trapping; develop eradicationcontingency plans for introduced exotic pest fruit flyspecies; assess movement of people and the types ofcrops and fruit throughout PNG.

• Storage of data. Information collected from the trappingsand host plant surveys to be stored permanently on thecomputer database for future reference for institutionsthat want access to that information for study purposes.

• Administration to collaborate closely with RMFFP(Regional Management of Fruit Fly Project); transferfunds and equipment to PNG; report 6-montly to ACIARand AusAID.

• Training to be conducted by workshops for PNG stafffrom NAQIA (including identification, biology, pre-harvest control, quarantine procedures) and NARI;infield training through visits of Griffith University staffto PNG.

Fruit fly damage to fruits and vegetables in PNG have madethe consumption and sale of these fruits and vegetables inlocal markets difficult.

A preliminary host survey conducted by the PNG Fruit FlyProject in the Central Province showed that 12 species outof the 188 are confirmed to be pests. Surveys have beencarried out at different locations covering the major regionsof PNG.

Fruit Fly Review

An adult bananafruit fly



A one day seminar on El Nino, what it is and how it affectsPNG weather, was conducted on the 16 July 2002 at the High-lands Agricultural College, Mt Hagen. It was attended byrepresentatives from the Fresh Produce Development Com-pany (FPDC), Coffee Industry Cooperation (CIC), Rural De-velopment Bank, Baptist Union of PNG and Highlands Agri-cultural College.

The NARI information centre in Mt Hagen organised theseminar after the PNG National Weather Service predictedthat some parts of the country might experience drier thannormal conditions over the remainder of this year and prob-ably continue into next year (2003). There is also an increasedlikelihood of frosts in the higher altitude areas of the high-lands.

People remember quite vividly the effects of the last El Ninowhich affected PNG in 1997 and 1998. Therefore, it was im-portant to give some background on El Nino, what it is andwhat it may mean to the country. Mr. Martin Gunther, theHorticultural Research Advisor with NARI-ACNARS project,presented the seminar that covered the following:

• What is an El Nino?• Southern Oscillation Index (SOl).• How ocean temperatures affect rain.• What makes rain?• What is the main influence on weather in PNG?• Pacific Ocean sea temperature.• There are a number of other factors that also

influence weather.• How frequently does an El Nino occur?• What does it mean?• Reliability of data.• Data presented for several stations in PNG.• Prediction of seasonal rainfall.• Reliability of prediction.

Copies of the presentation (Seminar) are available at the NARIInformation Centre in Mt Hagen. Seminars are part of on-going activities that the Information Centre will hold as ameans of providing information and interaction with NARIstakeholders in the highlands.

The National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI)Highlands Programme at Aiyura had its first field day on theDrought Response Project in June.

The field day was held to show farmers the activities of theproject and to see for themselves the drought tolerant sweetpotato varieties evaluated under the project.

The project is funded by the World Bank and is aimed atproducing varieties of crops that are able to give high yield atearly maturing stages and be able to withstand drought.

Drought Response Project Leader Dr Sergie Bang was onhand to explain to farmers about the early maturing anddrought tolerant varieties of sweet potato.

Some of the highlights of the day were the use of Vetiverplant for prevention of soil erosion, tasting of sweet potatovarieties and demonstrations given to local farmers as towhich varieties of sweet potatoes are good for planting,especially in the highlands of Papua New Guinea.

Farmers at the field day

A three-day Drought Response On-Farm ContingencyPlanning Workshop was held in Lae at the Melanesian Hotelfrom 11 - 13 June 2002, organised by the National AgriculturalResearch Institution (NARI) to compile and document on-farm contingency plans for the people in drought vulnerableareas of PNG. Climate experts in the world have predicted thatanother El Nino (drought) might strike PNG in the next 6 to 12months.

Participants from various institutions such as the Departmentof Agriculture and Livestock (DAL) and Non-GovernmentOrganisations (NGOs) attended the workshop. The workshopwas held to document contingency plans and a NationalSystem of Drought Preparedness that would look at:

• A mechanism for warning.

• Distribution of information on on-farm contingencyplans.

• Multiplication and distribution of drought-tolerant planting materials.

• Demonstrations and uptake of relevanttechnologies.

Farmers around the country would be warned in advancedabout El Nino through extension bulletins in Tok Pisin.

Field Day at NARI Aiyura

Drought Response On-FarmContingency Planning Workshop

El Nino Awareness Seminar


4Promoting Excellence in Agricultural Research

Staff ComingsStaff ComingsStaff ComingsStaff ComingsStaff Comingsand Goingsand Goingsand Goingsand Goingsand Goings

Talitha Raif joined NARI inMay 2002 as casual MediaCordinator. She is nowbased at NARI HQ.

Ewa Ososo resigned inJune 2002.

Michelle Ososo resignedin early June 2002 to takeup a job with the Lihir Groupof Companies.

Susan Why has now as-sumed the role of HumanResources Assistant.

Sanian Tabua will now bethe Executive Secretary toDDG.

Brigit Sowa has assumedas Secretary to the Direc-tor Research.

Lisa Guring is back at theHQ front desk as reception-ist.

Louis Kurika joined NARIas Senior Scientist(Agronomist), Keravat.

Kiteni Kurika joined NARIas Research Technician,Keravat.

Thecla Guaf joined NARIas Techincian with the TaroBeetle Project, Bubia.

Prof. A.R. Quartermainjoined NARI as PrincipalLivestock Scientist/Coordi-nator based at Labu Live-stock Programme. He willresume with NARI as ofSeptember 2002.

Francis Dua joined NARIas Livestock Scientist andwill be based at Tambul.

David Minemba joinedNARI as Outreach andLiaision officer and isbased in Mt Hagen.

A back to back training on alternative cash crop farming was conducted over a period of 3weeks from 24 May to 19 June 2002 at NARI Lowlands Islands Programme - Keravat. A totalof 50 participants (including one woman) in two groups attended the training.

The training covered all relevant aspects of alternative cash crops; from establishment andcrop husbandry to harvesting, processing, packaging and marketing. The emphasis was onvanilla but also included other crops like pepper, nutmeg, kava, turmeric and balsa. The trainingalso covered practical sessions in preparing and applying plant derived pesticides, andvegetative propagation of fruit and nut trees. Visits to OISCA (Integrated Farming TrainingCenter), PNG Balsa (processing plant), Alma Spice Exporters (cardamom processing andpackaging plant), Kaur Industries (chillie buying, processing and packaging plant), Agmark(vanilla buying, processing and packaging plant) and vanilla plantations and smallholderblocks in the Gazelle Peninsula were also on the course programme.

Feed back from the participants indicated that the training was very valuable to them, especiallywith the hands on type training as this gave them practical knowledge which they wouldimmediately put into practice in both training others and growing the crops themselves.Participants were also provided with planting material of all the crops covered during trainingto take with them.

The training was jointly organised and sponsored by the Bougainville Department of PrimaryIndustry and the European Union under the Bougainville Restoration Programme in conjunctionwith NARI Wet Lowland Islands Programme at Keravat.

Above: Group photo ofthe second lot of partici-pants at NARI Keravat

Left: Demonstration ofvanilla hand pollination tocourse participants

Bougainville Farmer and ExtensionOfficer Training


Promoting Excellence in Agricultural Research 5

One of the objectives of the National Agriculture ResearchInstitute ( NARI) is to develop appropriate farming methodsand practices for improving smallholder semi- subsistenceagriculture.

This objective coincides with Ok Tedi Mining Limited (OTML)Food Security Programme implemented in the WesternProvince. Last year, two officers from NARI Dry LowlandsProgramme - Laloki conducted a workshop on organic farmingin the North Fly district. They also assisted in supplyingplanting material for Samagos DPI Centre for multiplication anddistribution to farmers in the Western Province.

OTML’s Food Security Agriculture Programmme incollaboration with the Western Province Division of Agricultureand Livestock (DPI) is working towards establishingmultiplication centres in Aiambak (Middle Fly ) and Tapila(South Fly ). In close consultation with NARI, disease anddrought tolerant varieties of food crops will be introduced andestablished in these centres so that people of the WesternProvince can have access to good planting materials.

The African yam is becoming popular in the Morobe and CentralProvinces and rapidly spreading throughout the lowland areasof the country. The Rural and Economic Development group inKiunga is currently in the process of multiplying this yam fordistribution at the Samagos DPI Center. Those who have tastedit have shown interest.

Included in the trial plots are bananas and cassava obtainedfrom the collections held at Laloki.

Eight high yielding cassava varieties with good eating qualitieswere introduced to Samagos station of which four are believedto be tolerant to drought conditions. This is yet to be confirmedby NARI through its Drought Response Project.

Giant African yams being harvested from the Samagos trials.From left to right are Beldon Dasa of OTML, KaianemYandebong and Alex Yali (farmers), Stanley Murray of OTMLand Kaspar Kini of North Fly DPI

Western Province to Expand in Food Crop ProductionSome promising banana varieties from PNG and QueenslandDepartment of Primary Industry (QDPI) were also introducedto Samagos station.The material supplied had been on trial atLaloki.The studies carried out by NARI in collaboration withQDPI at Laloki had identified some banana varieties resistantto Sigatoka disease complex that affects bananas. The plantingat Samagos currently has 17 varieties and is yet to confirm ifsome of these materials are resistant to Sigatoka disease.

OTML Food Security Programme Team Leader, Mr. StanleyMurray, said that the Food Security Programme is now in theprocess of multiplying these crops to distribute to the fieldthrough the Aiambak and Tapila Centres for distribution to theMiddle and South Fly regions. So far 10 bunches of bananasand 20 tubers of yam have been harvested. Each yam tuberweighs approximately 3.65 kg.

Banana and cassava varieties will also be distributed once NARILaloki gives confirmation of their performance and toleranceduring the dry conditions.

AUSTRALORP CHICKENS

The NARI Livestock Programme at Labu is happy to announcethat it is now able to supply small quantities of Australorpchickens to interested customers. The chickens would besupplied about one month after receiving a written requestand payment from the customer. The price per bird at presentis given in the table below. These prices will be updated asand when necessary and published in this newsletter.

Age in Weeks Price Per Bird (10% VAT included)

1 K2.752. K2.974. K3.306. K4.298 K5.8310. K8.0312 K10.8914 K14.32

Should you require more information on Australorp chickens,visit us at Labu or contact Monica Mazi at the address below:

NARI Livestock Programme - LabuP.O. Box 1639, LaeMorobe Province

Telephone: 475 1066Facsimile: 475 1248

Email: [email protected]

Story and photograph by Tom Nami, Extension Officer, OTML.Tom can be contacted on telephone 548 3755. Email:[email protected]



News in BriefACIAR Taro Beetle Project StaffReceive Training in Canberra

Three staff of the ACIAR Taro Beetle Project attended a oneweek intensive training on how to isolate, culture and growMetarhizium anisopliae and other related fungi used inbiological control, at CISRO Entomology, Insect PathologyLaboratory in Canberra from June 1-7, 2002. Roy Masamdu(Project Coordinator, Bubia), Otto Ngere (Entomologist,Kerevat) and Silvia Kiteni Kurika (Technician, Kerevat) attendedthe training. Dr Richard Milner, Insect Pathologist and MsGina Dimcevska (Technician) provided the training.

Dr Milner is the Australian Collaborator of the project. He hashad many years experience in insect pathology, especially inthe use of Metarhizium and has developed two commercialproducts, BiocaneR and BiogreenR . Biocane is used forcontrolling larvae of cane grubs in Queensland while theAustralian Plaque Locust Commission uses Biogreen for controlof locusts.

Methods of fungus isolation, culture, germination, massproduction and spore extraction were demonstrated and handson training was received by the participants.

The participants had the opportunity to visit the AustralianNational Insect Collection at CSIRO and ACIAR Headquarters,where they met ACIAR Director Dr John Skerrit and DeputyDirector Corporate Services Michael Brown.

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Regional On-Farm ConservationMeeting

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) hosted theRegional On-Farm Conservation Meeting from 20 - 22 May2002 in Suva, Fiji. The meeting was attended by Dr DavinderSingh and Rosa Kambuou on behalf of NARI.

The preliminary studies carried out by TaroGen project relatedto On-Farm Conservation (OFC) of taro have indicated thatOFC could have potential in the Pacific Island countries (PIC).The Plant Genetic Resources (PGR) Network Workshop thatfollowed the TaroGen Conservation Strategy Workshop inSeptember 2001 recognised that the management andenhancement of PGR have been in the hands of farm familiesand communities from the beginning of agriculture. The networkacknowledged that the contributions of farm families,communities and indigenous peoples are critical for theconservation, enhancement and utilization of biologicaldiversity. Therefore, these groups should be the ultimatebeneficiaries of PGR activities. The PGR Network Action Planacknowledged that there is a need to gather more informationon OFC, so that countries are fully aware of how this method of

conservation can be used to its full advantage. This broughttogether the members of several PIC including PNG for thisregional OFC workshop with the following objectives:

• review past and present on-farm studies in the region;• learn from and about on-farm initiatives in other

regions;• determine whether on-farm conservation is appropriate

and applicable conservation methodology for the PIC;and

• formulate a project proposal for on-farm conservation.

At the end of workshop, participants had a far greater insightinto the benefits and potential pitfalls of OFC. With the help ofIPGRI experts, a landscape frame for a regional OFC projectwas sketched. The participant countries were asked to developnational concept papers for OFC on their return, which will leadto final design and documentation of the proposed regionalproject.

Human Resource DevelopmentWorkshop

The National Agricultural Research Institute conducted a one-day workshop on Human Resource Development of itsemployees at the Lae International Hotel in May 2002.

The purpose of the workshop was to equip the ResearchProgram Leaders and senior staff of NARI to incorporateprovision to bring out high potential employees in NARI.

Some of the subjects looked at during the workshop werereviews conducted on development of an agreed programmeof training and implementation of various task for their staff.

The one-day workshop looked at areas such as theimplementation of position descriptions, ongoing review ofperformance based on objectivity and the linking of rewardsto performance.

The workshop offered an opportunity for the employees ofNARI to enhance their job performance to a satisfactory leveland also to improve NARI’s overall performance.

The workshop also looked at finalising the PerformanceDevelopment Review (PDR) that was implemented in 2000 toassess and evaluate the performance of all the staff of NARI.

The main purpose of the Human Resource Workshop was totrain Research Program Leaders on the use of PDR in order tohelp them assess those working under their supervision. It isone effective way to look at their weaknesses and whetherthey need further training or supervision. The idea is to usePDR to evaluate performance and for NARI staff to be awareof their individual performance.



Traditional Rice Storage and Preservation Technology Used in theFinschhafen District

Traditionally, it is impossible to consume or process all the riceimmediately after harvest. Almost all of the rice produced bysmallholder rice farmers in PNG is stored in houses where itwill eventually be used for food or as seed material. InFinschhafen, an interesting case of traditional technology isused to preserve paddy that has been developed and used forwell over 100 years since rice was introduced to the area byearly missionaries. People have been using the smoke dryingmethod, supplemented with heat treatment, to preserve theirrice.

This method of preserving paddy rice is common in the Mape,Kote and Hube local level government (LLG) areas. Whathappens is that previously sun-dried paddy is put into bagsand stored on raised platforms just above the fire-place in thehouses. When fires are made, the smoke and heat applied keepsthe paddy dry. The smoke also allows the formation of phenoliccompounds on the rice kernels that either kill or deter storagepests and microorganisms from damaging the rice.

This traditional technology may not conform to meet the mainobjective for the design and construction of ideal storagestructures that aim at eliminating the conditions favourable tograin damage and, at the same time, maintain the original quality.Ideally, this traditional technology and storage structure hasperformed two most important functions.

This technology has proven that it can provide protectionagainst weather, crawling floor insects, microorganisms andmoisture. Major potential pests of rough rice including mothsand rice weevils can be effectively controlled, although ratsare sometimes hard to control. Rats mainly cause grain lossdue to direct feeding on the grain. As expected, this is not anideal storage structure and other problems that have beenreported include loss of weight, reduced seed vigour, lowviability and germination power and low market value. It hasalso been reported that smoke dried rice does not have goodeating quality and taste. This happens because variousphysiological and enzymatic changes that occur duringsmoking affect the taste quality, making the rice dump andmoderately lack perfect rice character and flavour whencooked.

No matter what the drawbacks of such traditional technologiesare, farmers will continue to adopt such technologies as longas they meet their needs to some extent. Learning fromtraditional technologies such as these, construction of storagefacilities must allow greater control over deteriorative factorsthat spoil the grains. Some of the foremost requirements andconsiderations before the construction of storage structuresmust be that the structure must:

· Not allow water, rain, moisture or any other liquid to comein contact with the grain. Keep the area dry from rain,moisture and make sure the floor is not wet. Insect pestsprefer a damp, moist environment to live. Rice seeds canalso germinate during storage if they are in contact with

water. High humidity conditions during contact with watermay also initiate grain breakage due to germination.

· Keep out insects, rodents, birds, dust, objectional odours,faecal matter and other foreign materials.

· Be economical and easy to operate and the structure shouldbe planned, designed and constructed to accommodatethe needs of the farmer.

· Allow always to keep the storage area clean and free ofrubbish, dirt, food remains, animal faeces and other materials.Both the inside and outside area must be clean at all timesto reduce build-up of insect pests, rodents, micro-organisms,etc.

· Allow proper ventilation if the rice is to be stored in openstorage structures like raised platforms. Un-threshed rice isbetter protected against pests and water in such structures.Adequate ventilation will also regulate air temperature sothat excess heat generated from metabolic and respiratoryprocesses will not build up within the grains.

· Use good storage items such as large containers and drumswhich are ideal for paddy storage especially in ruralcommunities provided that they are clean, close properly,have no perforations and the grain has been sufficientlydried prior to storage. If proper containers are used, youcan store your produce in the house or on raised platformswithout heat treatment for up to a certain period of time.This will avoid attack from crawling insects, ants, and excessrun off water.

· Allow for proper handling techniques. Always turn thegrains regularly to allow circulation of fresh air and theremoval of heat built-up.

Wanting to know about Anas duck keepers

A number of Anas ducks such as the Khaki Campbell andPekin were introduced into the country over the past years.These ducks have not been accepted by smallholder farmers,and have only existed in schools and other institutions such asprovincial DPI centres. The NARI Livestock Programme has asmall flock of Anas ducks which was inherited from theDepartment of Agriculture and Livestock .

Since the status of Anas ducks in terms of their numbers andinstitutions keeping them is not known, NARI would like toknow where these ducks are kept, their numbers and reasonsfor keeping them.

Anyone keeping Anas ducks or knowing where Anas ducksare kept can contact Dr. Pikah Kohun or Saun Ignatius on 4751248 or 475 1066. Email: [email protected]



The Daigin Resource Centre in Finschhaffen, Morobe Province,would now have the latest information and technology onagriculture at the doorstep with assistance from the NationalAgricultural Research Institute (NARI).

In an agreement signed recently between the President of theYabim Mape, Mr Abai Labi, and the Director General of NARI,Mr Valentine Kambori, NARI would help provide assistance tothe Daigin Resource Centre with the latest information on crops,livestock, poultry and other agricultural matters.

Mr Labi presented K7, 000 on behalf of the Daigin ResourceCentre to NARI during the signing of the agreement to helpfacilitate the centre.

He said that he is confident that NARI would put somethingpositive back to the community by providing the people withinformation and technology.

He said his people have waited a long time for such developmentto take place in their area and now, with the assistance fromNARI, it is a dream come true for his people.

NARI Director General, Mr Kambori, said that with NARI’stheme for this year as ‘bringing research to farmers’ the projectwith the help of NARI would focus on the farmer and thosewho are not privileged in furthering their education to learnmore about the latest developments on crops, how to managesoil erosion, irrigation and how to use preventive methods forcertain crop and livestock diseases.

Mr Kambori said that the Daigin Resource Centre, withassistance from the National Agricultural Research Institute,would aim at involving farmers in the village to implement anduse the latest materials and technology on their farms.

He said that NARI would provide the centre with the necessarytools and technology to equip the farmers.

The National Agricultural Research Institute’s help would makethe Daigin Resource Centre a one-stop shopping centre wherefarmers and local villagers that are interested in agriculture cansource information.

Mr Kambori said that NARI would provide technical officersand scientists to assist the Daigin Resource Centre to help thelocal farmers.

He said that the signing of the agreement was an historicalmoment for both NARI and the Daigin Resource Centre andwould go down in history.

“The agreement marks an important date on the NARI calendar,as this would be the first time for the institute to embark on aproject like this with the people” said Mr Kambori.

Taro Open Day

A Taro Open Day was organised by SPC/NARI/AusAIDTaroGen project on 2 June 2002. The Open Day was themed:‘Promotion of Taro in PNG for Food Security and GeneticDiversity’ and featured the following activities:

• Taro breeding programme demonstration, and fieldand trial displays;

• Tasting of recently released taro varieties;• Distribution of planting material of released varieties;• Farmer training on rapid multiplication techniques,

and• Taro Beetle control and management.

The farmers showed considerable interest in the day. Therewere more than 200 participants. Farmers came from as far asMt Hagen and Goroka to attend the show and in particular toreceive the planting material of newly released varieties. It wasgood to note the high attendance of women farmers and theirinterest in recently released varieties. Several school groupsand community groups also participated. Participants weregiven the opportunity to taste new varieties before distribution.

The taste was considered highly acceptable by the particpants.Approximate 1500 plants of each variety were distributed.Farmers who were not able to receive material, will be providedwith material in July. The participants showed keen interest ingetting recommendations to manage and avoid taro beetleattack. Mr. Roy Masmadu (Co-coordinator of the Taro BeetleProject) answered farmers’ queries and provided currentrecommendations.

Training/demonstrations were also provided to interestedparticipants in efficient taro multiplication techniques. The daywas an excellent opportunity to disseminate the technologycreated by TaroGen to the farmers. There was an admirablecoverage of the day by the media and taro farming hit theheadlines of the newspapers. It served as an excellent meansfor the impact and awareness of the newly released varieties.Realising its success, there is a plan to conduct such days atLaloki and Keravat Research stations by the end of this year.

Daigin Resource Centre

A group of farmers with planting material of the newly re-leased taro varieties at the field day



Technical Tips and ContributionsIS A AS GOOD AS B ?

A PROBLEM IN STATISTICAL DESIGN

Classical statistical design and analysis is geared to testingthe validity of differences between or among groups ortreatments. We are asking the question - is A different fromB or better than B?

But often we are evaluating one thing against another andwe want to ask the question - is A as good as B?

This happens for example in animal feeding when we arecomparing a new feed formulation with an existing standard.What we really want to know here is whether or not the newfeed is as good as the standard for our purposes. Simpleapplication of “t” tests or analysis of variance does not helpus here because lack of significance of differences amongtreatments does not mean that the effects of the treatmentsare the same or near enough to equal. Lack of significancecan be due simply to poor design, mainly inadequate numbersof experimental units (animals, pens of animals, plots, farms)per treatment. Other sources of variation which you mighthave been able to eliminate or reduce, for example by blocking,can also inflate the error mean square or within treatmentvariance and reduce the chances of getting a statisticallysignificant result.

Therefore we need a different approach.

Of course if all the means are numerically equal, then they areequal and there is not much more that can be done exceptthat it would be wise to repeat the experiment after takinginto account what follows. First of all we must make sure thatwe have considered and, as far as possible through ourdesign, eliminated all possible sources of variation except forthe treatments and unpredictable or unmanageable animal,plant or plot individuality. Secondly we must determine orestimate the likely variance among experimental units treatedalike, having eliminated known sources of variation. This wecan get from previous experiments or we may have to collectsome data especially to estimate it. If we run a preliminaryuniformity trial we will get estimates of this variance.

We must now decide how big a difference between groups,or how much variation among group means, we will allowbefore we call them different. This is easiest seen by thinkingin percentages. For example, we might consider two meansdifferent by less than 10 percent of the larger one as being forall intents and purposes equal. This is a matter of judgmentor common sense after consideration of the consequencesof making a mistake. If an error in our conclusion could becostly, one way or another, then we would place narrowerlimits on our chosen difference.

Procedures given in most if not all standard textbooks onstatistics give us a way to calculate the number of experimental

units per treatment that should be required to showdifferences greater than the chosen level as significant atany given but predetermined level of significance. Thestandard procedure uses the detectable (specified) difference,in the units of measurement of the variable, the estimatedstandard deviation or standard error of the mean and “t” forthe chosen significance level and with degrees of freedomdetermined by the number of treatments and experimentalunits per treatment. Because of this dependence of thedegrees of freedom on the size of the experiment, it is necessaryto go through a series of iterations (usually not very many)to arrive at the required number of experimental units pertreatment.

If we follow this procedure and run the experiment as specified,then if we get a smaller difference between treatments thanthat chosen and this is not significant, we can be confidentthat the lack of significance is because our treatments giveequal effects as defined and not because our experiment wasinadequate with too small a sample size.

Further Reference: see Bob Mayer “Basic Statistics Course”reference notes Module 2 Hypothesis Testing, Page 13,paragraphs 3 and 4.

Alan Quartermain

Bridget Quartermain (left) with Fluffy and ElvinaQuartermain (right) with Flopsy. The gentleman in themiddle has already pulled many rabbits out of his hat.

Editor: [email protected]


10

We would like to hear from you. In this column, wewill be publishing your letters (views, opinion, etc.) inregard to any issues that are published in NARI NIUSor other relevant agricultural research issues thatyou wish to express. We will publish your letters oremail and fax messages requesting NARI publica-tions and other information..


Between 1985 and 1999 the Nitrogen Tree Fixing Association(NTFA) and its successor, the Forest, Farm and CommunityTree Network (FACT Net), issued 97 fact sheets and highlightsdealing with tree species and agroforestry systems of relevanceto smallholder farm families. This was an extension of NFTA’soriginal mission to promote the wise use of nitrogen fixingtrees and as part of the Winrock International FACT Netprovided free consultation service to individuals andorganisations throughout the world. This service has nowclosed leaving an information gap that will be difficult to fill.

Thoughtfully and luckily the gains of the last 15 years havenot been lost. All the fact sheets and bulletins and,in addition,the bulletins published by the Agroforestry InformationService for the Pacific (AIS) have now been reissued in onevolume. The publication has been produced with financialsupport from the Council of Agriculture, Taiwan, and is avaluable compendium for all those involved in smallholderand subsistance farming.

Nitogen fixing trees (NFTs) are probably of most interestbecause they can be a renewable, free source of fertiliser whichis especially important to resource-poor farmers who cannotafford chemical fertilisers. In addition NFTs may make excellentfuelwood and charcoal, many are good fodder plants and, inthe right situation, can be incorporated in living fences, beused as windbreaks, or be part of intercropping systems.

In PNG perhaps the greatest potential of NFTs is where

improved fallow is needed after intensive cultivation in slashand burn agriculture when economic pressure makes longfallows infeasible for many people. The information in thisbook makes easier the selection of appropriate trees forparticular purposes. Useful agroforestry trees are notnecessarily exotics and this book is recommended to PNGfarmers who may not be aware of all the values and uses ofsome of the trees that are around them. Agroforestry Speciesand Technologies is also recommended as a valuable referencefor agricultural scientists and extension officers.

I would like to suggest that unless a responsible donor comesforward to resuscitate this service, (the Network’s staff rarelyexceeded 4-5 people and was cheap at the price), the next stepto continue and extend this work is up to NARI. The format ofthe bulletins in this book would be a good model for webpages which could be made widely available at low cost. Inaddition, Winrock International Institute for AgriculturalDevelopment, which holds the copyright in this publication,might be encouraged to make the factsheets available on theWorld Wide Web. The Network was established for “theproduction, management and utilization of trees to help protectthe environment and alleviate poverty”. Anything which makesthis more likely should be encouraged and extended.

Alan J. Dartnall

Review NoticeRoshetko, J.M. ed. 2001. Agroforestry Species and Technologies: a compilation of the highlights and factsheets published byNTFA and FACT Net 1985-1999. Taiwan Forestry Research Institute and Council of Agriculture, Taiwan, Republic ofChina; Winrock International, Morrilton, Arkansas, USA. ISBN 1-57360-032-6

Use of Web Mail toTemporarily Keep

Copies of ImportantFiles

I am aware that you have heardenough advice on makingback up copies of importantfiles in computers but I alwaysinsist that importantdocuments should always beprinted out even if they arehalf done because electroniccopies are not totally safe.There is another techniquethat I use for keeping

documents safe when I travelespecially overseas and thatis by storing documents inweb mails like “hotmails”and “yahoo mail”.

Web mails are basicallyInternet based emailaccounts that are free ofcharge, at least to you, andyou can sign up for one inunder three minutes. You caneither use hotmail or yahoomail accounts, which operatethe same. After using themfor some time I realize they

are simply websites and, likeany website, you can accessthem from anywhere in theworld. If I have a power pointpresentation or document topresent overseas, I simplysend the document as anattachment to my own hotmailaccount. I take other copieswith me on diskettes or zipdisks. Should I lose thediskettes for some reason likemy baggage getting lost, thenI can simply access theinternet from there anddownload the document. Youcan delete the documents later

when you no longer needthem.

You can even store importantdocuments like a half donethesis temporarily on thewebmail to make sure it issafe. Even if your computergets stolen, it will still beaccessible. It sounds funnyto send a document toyourself on the web mail butit won’t be funny to lose animportant document.

By David Putulan



NARI PUBLICATIONS

1. Proceedings of the NARI Poultry Workshop. NARI ProceedingsSeries, Proceedings No. 1. March 2000.

2. Prospects for Vanilla Development in Papua New Guinea. Proceed-ings of a Farmer/Researcher/Marketer Workshop. NARI ProceedingsSeries, Proceedings No. 2, September 2000.

3. Focus for Agricultural Research in Papua New Guinea. NARI Con-ference Paper Series, Conference Paper No. 1, December 2000.

4. How to Produce Homemade Pesticides. NARI Extension Series,Extension Booklet No.1, February 2001.

5. Descriptive List of Selected Sweet Potato Varieties for LowlandConditions. NARI Extension Series, Extension Booklet No. 2, March2001.

6. Description of Selected Sweet Potato Varieties for Lowland Condi-tions: Selection as of December 1998. NARI Technical Bulletin Se-ries, Technical Bulletin No. 1, May 2001.

7. Efficient Propagation Techniques for Taro Multiplication. NARIExtension Booklet Series, Booklet No. 3, June 2001.

8. Towards an Integrated Cabbage Pest Management Strategy for theWet Lowlands of Papua New Guinea. NARI Technical Bulletin Series,Technical Bulletin No. 2, July 2001.

9. Vanilla. NARI Information Bulletin Series, Information BulletinNo.1, August 2001.

10. Distribution and Management of Siam Weed in Papua New Guinea.NARI Conference Paper Series, Conference Paper No. 2, November2001.

11. Current Status of Pesticide Use in PNG. NARI Conference PaperSeries, Conference Paper No. 3. December 2001.

12. NARI Recommended Taro Hybrids. NARI Extension Series, Ex-tension Booklet No. 4, December 2001.

13. Improved Taro Varieties with Resistance to Taro Leaf Blight forPNG farmers. NARI Technical Bulletin Series, Technical Bulletin No.3, February 2002.

14. Durian. NARI Information Bulletin Series, Information BulletinNo. 2, June 2002.

15. Conservation of Domestic Animal Genetic Resources in PapuaNew Guinea. NARI Technical Bulletin Series, Technical Bulletin No.4, July 2002.

1. Cadet 2000 Graduation at the Melansian Hotel on the14 August 2002. Contact Dr N. Ahai on 472 1751.

2. Huon Seminar, PNG University of Technology, 10 - 12September 2002.

4. Morobe Show, 19 - 20 October 2002.

3. Research Prioritisation Workshop, 22 - 24 October2002. Contact Dr N. Ahai on 472 1751.

Up and Coming

N e w

N e w

Notice

Note that the Publication unit is now relo-cated to Labu. You can contact us on tel-ephone: 475 1338, Facsmile: 475 1248.Email: [email protected]

NARI Programmes and Contact AddressesNARI Head OfficeP.O. Box 4415LAE 411Morobe ProvincePapua New GuineaPhone: (675) 472 1751Fax: (675) 472 2242Email: [email protected]

NARI - Wet LowlandsMainland ProgrammeBubiaP.O. Box 1639LAE 411Morobe ProvincePapua New GuineaPhone: (675) 475 1033Fax: (675) 475 1034Email:[email protected]

NARI HighlandsProgramme - AiyuraP.O. Box 384KAINANTUEastern Highlands ProvincePapua New GuineaPhone: (675) 737 3500Fax: (675) 737 3516Email:[email protected]

NARI - Wet LowlandsIslands ProgrammeKeravatP.O. Box 204KOKOPOEast New BritainPapua New GuineaPhone: (675) 983 9145Fax: (675) 983 9129Email: [email protected]

NARI - ChemistryLaboratory - KilakilaP.O. Box 8277BOROKONational Capital DistrictPapua New GuineaPhone: (675) 321 2690Fax: (675) 320 2411Email: [email protected]

NARI - Dry Lowlands Pro-grammeLalokiP.O. Box 1828PORT MORESBYNational Capital DistrictPapua New GuineaPhone: (675) 328 1015Fax: (675) 328 1075Email:[email protected]

NARI - Livestock ResearchProgrammeLabuP.O. Box 1639LAE 411Morobe ProvincePapua New GuineaPhone: (675) 475 1232Fax: (675) 475 1034Email: [email protected]

NARI High Altitude High-landsProgramme - TambulP.O. Box 120MT HAGENWestern Highlands ProvincePapua New GuineaPhone: (675) 542 2411Fax: (675) 542 1462

National Agricultural InsectCollectionP.O. Box 8277BOROKONational Capital DistrictPapua New GuineaPhone: (675) 321 0218Fax: (675) 320 2411Email: [email protected]

This Newsletter is published quarterly by the Information andPublications Unit of the National Agricultural ResearchInstitute.

Editor: James LarakiDirection: Alan R. QuartermainDesign/Layout: James LarakiDistribution: Kumaino Wioga

Your contributions, views and opinions on the Newslettercan be sent to the editor using the above address. The me-dia and other interested organisations or individuals mayuse parts or whole articles from NARI Nius with clearacknowledgement as to source.

National Agricultural Research Institute, NARI Head Office, P.O. Box 4415, LAE 411, Morobe Province,Papua New Guinea, Phone: (675) 472 1751 Fax: (675) 472 2242 Email: [email protected]

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