Papua New Guinea

Research Priorities

Social, cultural and policy constraints to the adoption of agricultural technologies

The ACIAR program is based on, and committed to, improved adoption of innovations that respond to needs and deliver meaningful benefits to PNG’s smallholder farmers. Emphasis is placed on research that is economically, culturally, socially and environmentally relevant to the smallholder farmers.

Horticulture and root crops

High-value horticultural crops such as floriculture and vegetables provide an opportunity for income diversification and increases in household income. The ACIAR program in PNG aims to capitalise on these opportunities, with a particular emphasis on women’s engagement with markets, families and community groups. Root crops are traditional staple foods in PNG, and their vital contribution to food security is well recognised. However, the production of root crops, in particular sweetpotato, is declining as a consequence of shortening fallow periods, soil degradation and other factors such as pests and diseases. ACIAR interventions aim to address these issues and to develop sweetpotato from a traditional subsistence crop, with an emphasis on marketing.

Cocoa, coffee and oil palm production and marketing

Cocoa, coffee and oil palm provide major export and farm income generation opportunities for PNG producers. Increased production in these sectors will depend upon smallholder farmers. The ACIAR program is focused on understanding and addressing the social and economic constraints to smallholder production of these crops, and on the implementation of sustainable integrated crop management (ICM) practices.

Fisheries, aquaculture and forestry

Through export and trade in domestic markets, fisheries, aquaculture and forestry products generate smallholder income, underpin food security and provide the potential for economic development. The ACIAR program builds on significant competitive advantages in relation to forestry, aquaculture and fisheries, addresses the issues of sustainable development of these resources, evaluates and develops new opportunities within these sectors and enhances the economic returns from production of these commodities.

Agricultural biosecurity

The ACIAR program assists in the development of capacity to detect and manage infectious and exotic diseases,
pests and weeds in the wider context of reduction of economic losses and improved biosecurity arrangements,
in collaboration with other Australian and Pacific island country agencies.