Agriculture show next month

By SENIORL ANZU

The 2012 Agricultural Innovations Show is set to roll early next month at the Sir Alkan Tololo Research Centre at Bubia outside Lae, Morobe province.

  The annual event, organised by National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), showcases information sharing and technology transfer on agriculture, rural and national development.

School students observing gardens and taking notes at the 2011 Agricultural Innovations Show at Bubia outside Lae.-Nationalpic by MALUM NALU

 Prof David Kavanamur, new director general of the Office of Higher Education, will be the keynote speaker and guest-of-honour.

 The theme for this year’s show is ‘Investing in Innovative Agriculture for Prosperity’, a phrase which reaffirms NARI’s view that progress through innovative agricultural development is essential if PNG has to realise Vision 2050 and become a wealthy and prosperous nation.

 “NARI plays an important role to facilitate the achievement of PNG Vision 2050 strategic thrust, wherein the challenge to shift the economy structure from heavily extractive industry to agricultural downstream processing into 2050,” Prof Kavanamur said.

 “Agricultural scientific innovation as such is critically important for wealth creation opportunities as espoused in PNG Vision 2050, given 97% of land is customarily owned.

 “With agricultural scientific innovation, this customarily-owned land can be transformed to attract agrarian economic activities, thus creating more employment for Papua New Guineans.”

 During the show, all NARI centres throughout the country will display different research and development activities carried out on various agricultural challenges and opportunities.

 Scientists will also be at available at information booths to meet and answer farmer queries.

 The show organising committee said last week that preparations were on target and already a good number of external exhibitors had confirmed their participation through information booths.

 This included key government agencies such as the PNG Vision 2050, Independent Consumer and Competition Commission, Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council, National Fisheries Authority, Investment Promotion Authority, Office of Higher Education; international development partners like the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research and World Vision; NGOs such as the PNG Women in Agriculture; farmer groups; and private sector organisations.

 Farmer groups from Jiwaka, Western Highlands and Southern Highlands provinces have expressed their intention to participate with displays of their innovative activities in the highlands and also to learn from other knowledge-based and development organisations.