Photo: IRRI officials Dr. Balie and Dr. Johnson meet with Trukai officials at their rice farm in Erap, Morobe Province.
The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) visited Papua New Guinea in December to learn more about the nation’s rice industry and how farmers can be assisted to increase production in an environmentally sustainable way.
Dr. Jean Balie, head of IRRI’s agri-food policy platform, and Dr. David Johnson, IRRI representative for South East Asia, visited Papua New Guinea between 3rd and 7th December with support from the Australian Government.
During the visit, they met with Henry Ame, Goroka MP and Vice Minister for Agriculture, the Koi Trappe Member for Mul Baiyer and Frances Daink, the Acting Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Livestock, to better understand the Government of Papua New Guinea’s priorities and objectives for growing rice across the country.
Dr. Balie and Dr. Johnson also visited Trukai rice farms in Mul-Baiyer and Erap, to see firsthand, how rice is being grown to support livelihoods and food security.
Trukai’s Hamamas Rice is the first rice to be grown commercially in PNG. Farmers from Trukai rice farms in Umi and Chingwam discussed with IRRI the latest techniques in growing rice more efficiently and how production can be increased sustainably. In Mul-Baiyer, the delegation visited Trukai’s 10-hectare pilot rice project which celebrated its first harvest in October 2016.
IRRI is a leading international not-for-profit agricultural research and training organization that aims to improve livelihoods and nutrition through rice-based agri-food systems.
As part of efforts to grow Papua New Guinea’s economy, Australia is supporting the development of Papua New Guinea’s agriculture sector by connecting different industries with international experts.
