By ELIZABETH
VUVU
AusAID’s
Agriculture and Innovation Grant Scheme (AIGS) continues to play a major role
in developing agriculture and agricultural methods in Papua New Guinea, The National reports.
The
scheme, which has changed the livelihoods of many rural Papua New Guineans, is
once again in the forefront of another innovative project, this time funding
the Banana Scab Moth (BSM) and Banana Fruit Fly (BFF) management farmer training
in East New Britain (ENB).
The
project, which is estimated at more than K143, 000 will be undertaken
collaboratively by the University of Natural Resources & Environment (UNRE)
as lead organisation; and National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) as
partner 1.
It
aims to introduce farmers to a systematic combined management approach to
contain the two pests, increase banana production and improve their (farmers)
livelihoods through increased income.
The
university’s farmer training arm, Kairak Vudal Resource Training Centre (KVRTC)
is listed as partner 2 and is responsible for the actual training of farmers.
According
to project initiator, former UNRE lecturer Dr Mark Ero, the pests were serious
threats in ENB.
Ero,
who was speaking at an introductory meeting of project partners last Friday, said
because the Cocoa Pod Borer had affected the production of cocoa, the
province’s mainstay cash crop, it was important that alternative cash crops
were introduced to sustain the provincial economy.
“Banana
can be one such alternative crop to help farmers earn an income, particularly
because of its importance and high diversity in the province,” he said.
“Like
any other crop, though, it has its pests, so this project will train farmers
how to manage these pests to increase their production.”
While
UNRE through Ero initiated the project, the technology of a local pole injector
as a cheaper alternative to the commercial bell injector used in developed
countries, was developed by NARI’s Islands Regional Centre in Kerevat.
It
will be used to apply chemicals at fruit onset to control BSM (Nacolea octasema Myerick).
This
technology will be used together with other field hygiene approaches as a
single management package to concurrently manage both pests.
Explaining
the combined management strategy, Ero said once the spraying was done, farmers
would also need to remove dead leaves from the stem of the banana to eliminate
the possibility of the adult moths hiding and the pupae developing.
To
contain BFF (Bactrocera musae Tryon), which occurs when the banana is
mature, farmers must cover spray once all fingers are formed.
The
cover spray prevents other minor pests as well.
Ero
said the banana bunch must be bagged before maturity; and weeds and debris must
be removed from around the perimeter of the plants to disrupt the breeding
cycle,” he said.
“But
the timing is critical.
“You
must know when to carry out each step and that is where the training comes in.”
Reiterating
Ero’s comments, NARI’s John Bokosou, said the success of the pest management
strategy depended on the commitment of the farmers themselves.
He
said the current success rate of the approach observed through trials was about
90% and with alert management, farmers could take this to 100% retention of the
banana bunch.
“However,
they themselves must be committed to follow all the steps at the right time,”
Bokosou said.
About
200 farmers are expected to be trained under the project by the end of April.
The
training will also include awareness on cross-cutting issues such as gender
equity, HIV/AIDS and good nutrition.
Ero,
who is leaving the university this week to take up a new job offer, wished all
team members the best in the project.
Another
UNRE lecturer, James Aipa, will take over as caretaker project leader.
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