Role of vegetables in nutrition and poverty alleviation in Papua New Guinea

By SENIORL ANZU

The contribution of vegetables to human nutrition and poverty alleviation in developing countries will be the focus of a seminar that will be presented at Bubia near Lae on Friday April 17.
Director-General of the World Vegetable Centre, Dr Dyno Keatinge (pictured), who is on an official visit to PNG, will deliver the seminar talk at National Agriculture Research Institute’s multi-purpose Hall at the Bubia head office.
The talk is titled ‘Battling Against Malnutrition and Poverty in the Developing World’, with focus on the contribution of vegetables to human nutrition and poverty alleviation.
The Taiwan-based World Vegetable Centre, also known as the Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center (AVRDC), is the leading international centre for vegetable research and development worldwide.
 It is a not-for-profit research institute with the focus on alleviation of poverty and malnutrition in developing countries through the improved production and consumption of safe vegetables.
The Bubia seminar will be a highlight of Dr Keatinge’s five-day visit to PNG.
He arrived at the invitation of NARI as part of its effort to strengthen research and development on vegetables in PNG.                                                                                                                         Om Thursday April 16 Dr Keatinge will pay a courtesy call to the office of the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Livestock in Port Moresby and then visit NARI’s Dry Lowlands Programme at Laloki outside Port Moresby before travelling to Lae in the afternoon.
On Saturday April 18, he will travel the Highlands Highway to Kainantu and the NARI Highlands Programme at Aiyura to familiarise with the highlands vegetable farming systems.
The seminar will start at 10.30am followed by discussions and a press conference. Interested individuals or organisations should confirm their attendance by fax  (675) 475 1459 or email seniorl.anzu@nari.org.pg by Thursday April 16 at the latest.
Major stakeholders in vegetable and agricultural food production have been invited to the seminar.
 It is anticipated that NARI and other stakeholders would explore the possibility of developing partnership programmes between AVRDC and NARI and PNG organisations on vegetable research and development.