NARI drought resource centre launched

Morobe Governor Luther Wenge today (Wednesday, May 05, 2010) launched the National Agriculture Research Institute's model resource centre as Papua New Guinea prepares for the next big El Nino-induced drought in 2010

This is part of NARI's plan to prepare rural communities in PNG for frequent and prolonged El Nino-induced drought events.

The National Government has provided Public Investment Programme (PIP) funding of K2.5 million to equip a network of resource centres throughout the country – operated by government, non-government and church organisations – with the information and resources to help communities cope with recurring drought events.

The most-imminent risk to PNG posed by climate change is the increased frequency of strong El Nino events and the severe drought conditions they bring to much of the country.

Following the drought of 1997, NARI developed a series of strategies to help communities adapt their traditional food production systems to cope with the effects of drought.

These strategies have since been publicised at NARI field events and open days in various parts of the highlands and lowlands.

Notwithstanding this, most rural communities in the highlands, lowlands and islands regions still do not have good access to the necessary information and resources to cope with prolonged drought conditions.

Mr Wenge, when launching the model resource centre, said he was proud to have fought against NARI's abolition by the National Government in 1997 and had now shown its true value to everyone in PNG.

This fact was earlier acknowledged by NARI director general Dr Raghunath Ghodake and council chairman Dr John Kola.

Mr Wenge said that in 1997, after only one year in existence, the Government wanted to do away with NARI but founding council chairman Sir Alkan Tololo, founding director general Valentine Kambori and himself dissuaded the Government from this.

"Today is a very important day for NARI, especially after the Government wanted to do away with it in 1998," he said.

"With God's help, the Government listened to us.

"NARI has come a long way since then and NARI has achieved a lot of things."

Mr Wenge said he had full confidence in the NARI team to help carry PNG through the expected 2012 drought.

"I'm confident that NARI has the scientific team to carry us through the expected 2010 drought," he said.