Goroka Show committee has indicated that it will host a national unity festival to coincide with the 55th annual Goroka Show in September this year.
After the success of the 54th show last year, and with overwhelming record number of bona fide tourists numbering up to 830, which came without much advertising and publicity, committee has indicated its intention to host the national unity show to showcase the strength and resilience of the people of Papua New Guinea as a nation and country which has been “United in Diversity” since Independence.
The theme also reflects the united nation that PNG is as we progress into the 2012 national elections.
Gideon Samuel, chairman of Goroka Show, said this concept had been discussed with the Minister for Arts, Culture & Tourism, Guma Wau, and a submission had been made to seek the endorsement and support of the ministry and the national government.
“The concept has been circulated to concerned agencies such as Office of Prime Minister, Chief Secretary, Treasurer and the concerned departments,” he said.
Committee thanked the government for committing K200, 000 to assist in the 2010 Goroka Show.
“The money will be used to offset bills and make strategic plans to ensure that the show is a permanent feature in the country, as the only and biggest agricultural and cultural show in the country,” Samuel said.
“At present it has been operating on ad hoc basis with generous support from various private sector partners.
“In line with the national unity festival concept, invitations have been sent to all provincial governments and all MPs of Eastern Highlands to organise and nominate a cultural contingent of no more than 30 persons to the national unity festival in 2011.
“This will feature the concept of national unity in PNG and will feature participation of all disciplined services, PNG Fire Service and the agricultural sector.
“It is proposed that the Prime Minister of PNG will be the guest of honor.
“ Past Guests and overseas dignitaries have included include Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, Lord Mountbatten of Burma, various Governors General from Australia and PNG, and prime ministers Sir Julius Chan, Sir Rabbie Namaliu, Sir William Skate and Paias Wingti”.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Fight continues to contain potato diseases
By JAMES LARAKI of NARI
Efforts by the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) to address the potato late blight (PLB) disease which completely wiped out the industry in Papua New Guinea in 2003 is continuing with the evaluation of PLB-resistant varieties sourced from the International Potato Centre (CIP) in Peru.
The disease, caused by the fungus, Phtopthora infastans, remains a concern to the potato farmers, especially in the highlands where the crop is usually grown.
The fungus is a specialised pathogen of potato and, to a lesser extent, tomato which comes from the same plant family.
Late blight is an extremely destructive fungal disease of potatoes.
The fungus attacks both tubers and foliage at any stage of development and is capable of rapid development and spread.
It was responsible for the devastating Irish potato famine of the 1840s and has continued to be important to the present.
Since the Irish famine, late blight became the most-studied potato disease in the world.
Intense studies on the disease led to successful development of control methods such as the chemical fungicides and late blight-resistant varieties.
Late blight is still a terrible crop killer, striking fear into the hearts of potato growers worldwide. Late blight destroys an estimated 15% of the annual potato crop worldwide; in developing countries alone the disease costs about US$3.25 billion per year in lost production.
The late blight fungus has the power to appear out-of-the-blue and wipe out countries'’ entire potato industries in a few weeks.
In 2003, it destroyed the potato industry in PNG, then worth around K25 million.
Previously free of the disease, the country was one of the world's few remaining safe havens for growing potato.
It is believed to have come across from the neighboring Irian Jaya, Indonesia.
Within a short period of time, the fungus spread fast throughout the country after it was first discovered in Surunki, Enga province in March, leaving a trail of destruction.
Yield losses caused many smallholders, who relied on potato as a valuable cash crop, to withdraw from production, leading to an increase in potato prices in the country.
Some breakthrough has been made to control PLB using fungicides, however, the extra input is a burden to smallholder growers and identifying suitable varieties looks to be the long-lasting solution to revive the potato industry.
Subsistence farmers, making up the majority of farmers in PNG, rely on potato as an important cash and food source.
For some smallholders it was their main crop until the 2003 outbreak.
NARI PLB project leader, David Minemba, told visitors to the NARI Highlands Regional Centre field day recently in Tambul, Western Highlands that his team is working around the clock to identify suitable varieties to deal with the PLB problem.
Minemba noted that the famous Sequoia variety is still susceptible to PLB and only well-to-do farmers were growing this variety as they had the capacity to meet the additional input required. The devastating late blight disease has prevented smallholder farmers in PNG from growing the popular potato variety Sequoia.
Seed potatoes, fertiliser and fungicides are expensive and weekly fungicide sprays are now needed to make this variety productive.
Fresh Produce Development Agency, with input from NARI, has been successful in laying the foundation for rebuilding PNG potato industry through the delivery of supplies of quality seed and through village extension worker training activities, which have involved some 2, 500 smallholders.
However, at present, potato production in PNG is generally limited to a relatively small number of commercial growers who have access to land, backpack sprayers, chemicals, and seed potatoes and are growing the highly-susceptible cultivar Sequoia.
Minemba says the average farming households cannot affordable to grow the traditional variety as it is expensive and the PLB project is trying to identify resistant varieties with these farmers in mind.
Potato is not only a commercial crop but is also a source of food next to kaukau (sweet potato), particularly in the high altitude highlands region of PNG where the choice of staple food is limited.
NARI sourced 36 CIP clones in 2003 and evaluation work has been undertaken at various locations where the crop is grown.
Out of these, 12 clones were identified and further evaluation has been undertaken under the PLB project supported by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research Centre (ACIAR).
The objectives of the project are to introduce, multiply, evaluate and deploy late blight-resistant clonal material into PNG and to develop safe, cost-effective integrated late blight management strategies for existing and new potato cultivars and ultimately to rehabilitate potato production for smallholders.
This evaluation process has further identified four varieties to be promising and further evaluation work has been undertaken throughout potato-growing areas in PNG.
Minemba says with the farmers’ desire for the crop and food security in mind, his team will soon recommend two of the four promising varieties to the farming communities while work on PLB continues.
The institute is expected to officially release the two promising varieties to the farming community next month during its Agricultural Innovations Show with the aim of assisting smallholder farmers to grow the famous crop once again.
Efforts by the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) to address the potato late blight (PLB) disease which completely wiped out the industry in Papua New Guinea in 2003 is continuing with the evaluation of PLB-resistant varieties sourced from the International Potato Centre (CIP) in Peru.
 |
Okapa harvest… Farmers harvesting potato in a NARI evaluation trial in Okapa, Eastern Highlands. – Pictures by DAVID MINEMBA |
The disease, caused by the fungus, Phtopthora infastans, remains a concern to the potato farmers, especially in the highlands where the crop is usually grown.
The fungus is a specialised pathogen of potato and, to a lesser extent, tomato which comes from the same plant family.
Late blight is an extremely destructive fungal disease of potatoes.
The fungus attacks both tubers and foliage at any stage of development and is capable of rapid development and spread.
It was responsible for the devastating Irish potato famine of the 1840s and has continued to be important to the present.
Since the Irish famine, late blight became the most-studied potato disease in the world.
Intense studies on the disease led to successful development of control methods such as the chemical fungicides and late blight-resistant varieties.
Late blight is still a terrible crop killer, striking fear into the hearts of potato growers worldwide. Late blight destroys an estimated 15% of the annual potato crop worldwide; in developing countries alone the disease costs about US$3.25 billion per year in lost production.
The late blight fungus has the power to appear out-of-the-blue and wipe out countries'’ entire potato industries in a few weeks.
In 2003, it destroyed the potato industry in PNG, then worth around K25 million.
Previously free of the disease, the country was one of the world's few remaining safe havens for growing potato.
It is believed to have come across from the neighboring Irian Jaya, Indonesia.
Within a short period of time, the fungus spread fast throughout the country after it was first discovered in Surunki, Enga province in March, leaving a trail of destruction.
Yield losses caused many smallholders, who relied on potato as a valuable cash crop, to withdraw from production, leading to an increase in potato prices in the country.
Some breakthrough has been made to control PLB using fungicides, however, the extra input is a burden to smallholder growers and identifying suitable varieties looks to be the long-lasting solution to revive the potato industry.
Subsistence farmers, making up the majority of farmers in PNG, rely on potato as an important cash and food source.
For some smallholders it was their main crop until the 2003 outbreak.
NARI PLB project leader, David Minemba, told visitors to the NARI Highlands Regional Centre field day recently in Tambul, Western Highlands that his team is working around the clock to identify suitable varieties to deal with the PLB problem.
 |
| E2 field…Potato field at NARI Tambul of the E2 clone, one of the CIP clones that is expected to be released by NARI to the farming communities next month. |
Seed potatoes, fertiliser and fungicides are expensive and weekly fungicide sprays are now needed to make this variety productive.
Fresh Produce Development Agency, with input from NARI, has been successful in laying the foundation for rebuilding PNG potato industry through the delivery of supplies of quality seed and through village extension worker training activities, which have involved some 2, 500 smallholders.
However, at present, potato production in PNG is generally limited to a relatively small number of commercial growers who have access to land, backpack sprayers, chemicals, and seed potatoes and are growing the highly-susceptible cultivar Sequoia.
Minemba says the average farming households cannot affordable to grow the traditional variety as it is expensive and the PLB project is trying to identify resistant varieties with these farmers in mind.
Potato is not only a commercial crop but is also a source of food next to kaukau (sweet potato), particularly in the high altitude highlands region of PNG where the choice of staple food is limited.
NARI sourced 36 CIP clones in 2003 and evaluation work has been undertaken at various locations where the crop is grown.
Out of these, 12 clones were identified and further evaluation has been undertaken under the PLB project supported by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research Centre (ACIAR).
The objectives of the project are to introduce, multiply, evaluate and deploy late blight-resistant clonal material into PNG and to develop safe, cost-effective integrated late blight management strategies for existing and new potato cultivars and ultimately to rehabilitate potato production for smallholders.
This evaluation process has further identified four varieties to be promising and further evaluation work has been undertaken throughout potato-growing areas in PNG.
Minemba says with the farmers’ desire for the crop and food security in mind, his team will soon recommend two of the four promising varieties to the farming communities while work on PLB continues.
The institute is expected to officially release the two promising varieties to the farming community next month during its Agricultural Innovations Show with the aim of assisting smallholder farmers to grow the famous crop once again.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Sliding down 14-Mile way
Chimelen Kametan (front) and Aikeya Parkop riding the new waterslides to the amusement of NCDGovernor Powes Parkop and other guests at yesterday’s opening of the new facilities at the 14-Mile Park. The facilities are a must for children, and yesterday’s opening came at the perfect time, just before the long Easter weekend. – Nationalpic by EKAR KEAPU
LLGs miss out on quarterly funding
LOCAL level governments in Southern Highlands and the National Capital District town services did not get any funding from the national government in the first quarter of this year, The National reports.
The Department of Treasury and the National Economic and Fiscal Commission this week said first quarter allocations for most LLGs were not released because of the late or non-submission of LLG budgets to Treasury for approval.
None of Southern Highlands’ 32 LLGs received any funding even though K4,616,800 had been appropriated for the first quarter.
Only Morobe has one more LLG than the Southern Highlands, which presently included the Hela region.
Gulf was the next worst performer, with only one out of its 10 LLGs having received any money.
West Kikori LLG received its K50,000 allocation while the rest did not receive any funds from the K1,067,400 set aside for them.
Only Wabag and Wapenamanda LLGs received any funding out of Enga’s 15 LLGs.
Ambenob, Transgogol and Madang urban received their funding while 16 others missed out.
Other provinces did fairly well; with Manus leading the pack with 51% drawdown on its allocation of K485,100 for its 12 LLGs.
Its allocation is the smallest in the country.
Generally, the New Guinea Islands LLGs did very well with 50% drawdowns.
The Autonomous Region of Bougainville did not receive direct local level grants from the national government.
LLG grants are received by provincial governments and then passed on.
The grants can only be spent on goods and services and were not allowed to be spent on salaries, fees and allowances.
These are budgeted for separately by provinces and paid for from their internal revenue.
The Department of Treasury and the National Economic and Fiscal Commission this week said first quarter allocations for most LLGs were not released because of the late or non-submission of LLG budgets to Treasury for approval.
None of Southern Highlands’ 32 LLGs received any funding even though K4,616,800 had been appropriated for the first quarter.
Only Morobe has one more LLG than the Southern Highlands, which presently included the Hela region.
Gulf was the next worst performer, with only one out of its 10 LLGs having received any money.
West Kikori LLG received its K50,000 allocation while the rest did not receive any funds from the K1,067,400 set aside for them.
Only Wabag and Wapenamanda LLGs received any funding out of Enga’s 15 LLGs.
Ambenob, Transgogol and Madang urban received their funding while 16 others missed out.
Other provinces did fairly well; with Manus leading the pack with 51% drawdown on its allocation of K485,100 for its 12 LLGs.
Its allocation is the smallest in the country.
Generally, the New Guinea Islands LLGs did very well with 50% drawdowns.
The Autonomous Region of Bougainville did not receive direct local level grants from the national government.
LLG grants are received by provincial governments and then passed on.
The grants can only be spent on goods and services and were not allowed to be spent on salaries, fees and allowances.
These are budgeted for separately by provinces and paid for from their internal revenue.
Bougainville Copper Ltd announces K2.8 million profit for 2010
By BOSORINA ROBBY
BOUGAINVILLE Copper Ltd, operator of Panguna mine, revealed at its 44th annual general meeting a net profit of K2.8 million at the close of last year – a drop of K5.9 million from 2009’s K8.7 million, The National reports.
Chairman Peter Taylor reported to shareholders yesterday that the drop was due to operating expenses related to the budget saved for foreign exchange losses.
He explained that because of the small profit and the need to preserve cash for future developments, no dividends would be paid to shareholders.
BCL has remained debt-free, with sufficient funds available to meet expenses in the immediate future, while engagment with the landowners and the government has been frequent and positive.
Taylor said the profit, instead of an expected loss, was due to better than expected income from interest and dividends, and the realised capital gains on disposal of investments.
“However, the tax dispute legal fees continued to be a drain on revenue,” he said.
BCL’s liquid assets continued to be in cash and Australian equities, which, as a result of the good performance from the Australian equity market, had improved returns on investments.
Taylor said it was intended that this current investment strategy continued until such time when equities needed to be sold to fund mine planning and development.
He explained that this year’s income was expected to improve in terms of percentage returns but the size of the investment portfolio had been reduced as a result of the continued tax dispute in court.
Taylor pointed out that the election of John Momis as Bougainville president for the next five years was seen as an important development for BCL.
He said in this period, Panguna mine should be reopened to take advantage of the resurgence in mineral commodity prices and demand, with considerable support from Momis, the cabinet and the landowners.
He said although there was much to do, the common agreement that operations at the mine could continue would deliver significant benefits locally and regionally.
“There is increasing acknowledgment among stakeholders that Bougainville’s economic future needed mining if it were to be able to fund basic services from its own resources,” he said.
Taylor said among other issues, BCL’s non-profit arm Bougainville Copper Foundation had continued giving out scholarships to students for training in safety, risk management, corporate governance and litigation.
BOUGAINVILLE Copper Ltd, operator of Panguna mine, revealed at its 44th annual general meeting a net profit of K2.8 million at the close of last year – a drop of K5.9 million from 2009’s K8.7 million, The National reports.
Chairman Peter Taylor reported to shareholders yesterday that the drop was due to operating expenses related to the budget saved for foreign exchange losses.
He explained that because of the small profit and the need to preserve cash for future developments, no dividends would be paid to shareholders.
BCL has remained debt-free, with sufficient funds available to meet expenses in the immediate future, while engagment with the landowners and the government has been frequent and positive.
Taylor said the profit, instead of an expected loss, was due to better than expected income from interest and dividends, and the realised capital gains on disposal of investments.
“However, the tax dispute legal fees continued to be a drain on revenue,” he said.
BCL’s liquid assets continued to be in cash and Australian equities, which, as a result of the good performance from the Australian equity market, had improved returns on investments.
Taylor said it was intended that this current investment strategy continued until such time when equities needed to be sold to fund mine planning and development.
He explained that this year’s income was expected to improve in terms of percentage returns but the size of the investment portfolio had been reduced as a result of the continued tax dispute in court.
Taylor pointed out that the election of John Momis as Bougainville president for the next five years was seen as an important development for BCL.
He said in this period, Panguna mine should be reopened to take advantage of the resurgence in mineral commodity prices and demand, with considerable support from Momis, the cabinet and the landowners.
He said although there was much to do, the common agreement that operations at the mine could continue would deliver significant benefits locally and regionally.
“There is increasing acknowledgment among stakeholders that Bougainville’s economic future needed mining if it were to be able to fund basic services from its own resources,” he said.
Taylor said among other issues, BCL’s non-profit arm Bougainville Copper Foundation had continued giving out scholarships to students for training in safety, risk management, corporate governance and litigation.
Abal:Hate no more
ACTING Prime Minister Sam Abal has called on Papua New Guineans to abandon hatred and to make PNG a God-loving and fearing nation, The National reports.
In his Easter message, Abal called for resolve to stop discrimination and fight off endemic corruption “that is clogging the wheels of development”.
“Let us translate our ethnic and linguistic diversity into something that can infuse unity and harmony in this country,” he said.
“I thank Sir Michael Somare for allowing me the privilege of standing in for him as acting prime minister.
“I am sure the people of Wabag and Enga are equally appreciative of this gesture. Their prayers are with you at this time.”
He urged the people to use Easter to take stock of their lives and to identify and secure a place with God.
Abal said alcoholism had caused misery and destruction in the lives of families.
“We try at every festive occasion to spice it up with alcohol, which has never been part of our culture of remembrance.
“We must not do that this Easter as it will lead to disharmony and even tragedy for many.”
He said the gun culture gripping PNG must go and there must be common resolve to eradicate it, particularly in the highlands where it had destroyed traditional leadership and social control.
“A compensation culture is before us. We must replace it with the desire for honesty and truth.
“Unreasonable compensatory claims camouflage laziness and a beggar mentality.
“We must rise above these if we are to achieve nation-building and development which, together, ride on sheer hard work and self-sacrifice.
“The PNG LNG project, which promises to transform the economy in the not-too-distant future, comes with its short-comings.
“We are in business with new players regarding new and unfamiliar resources and its economics of business.
“But, as a host country and people, we must play our part to welcome such developments.
“We must allow for compromises where necessary at the same time we expect our investors to understand and respect our rights to land and property where these life-changing projects are situated.”
Abal said, as acting prime minister, he was confident of the support of all other hardworking ministers who are committed to repositioning the country to deliver the PNG Vision 2050, the development strategic plan and the medium-term development plan.
He said the state enterprises ministry, under the leadership of Arthur Somare, “is driving the sovereign wealth fund initiative which, when realised, will result in the growth of consolidated revenue”.
“Only recently, Papua New Guineans themselves met in Kokopo in common resolve to request the government to pay attention and support the fertilisation and development of an indigenous business class in the country.
“The government has promised to assist them. We will do that immediately.
“As we reflect this Easter, let us give thanks to God Almighty and Jesus Christ for their grace in giving us this beautiful and resource-rich nation.”
In his Easter message, Abal called for resolve to stop discrimination and fight off endemic corruption “that is clogging the wheels of development”.
“Let us translate our ethnic and linguistic diversity into something that can infuse unity and harmony in this country,” he said.
“I thank Sir Michael Somare for allowing me the privilege of standing in for him as acting prime minister.
“I am sure the people of Wabag and Enga are equally appreciative of this gesture. Their prayers are with you at this time.”
He urged the people to use Easter to take stock of their lives and to identify and secure a place with God.
Abal said alcoholism had caused misery and destruction in the lives of families.
“We try at every festive occasion to spice it up with alcohol, which has never been part of our culture of remembrance.
“We must not do that this Easter as it will lead to disharmony and even tragedy for many.”
He said the gun culture gripping PNG must go and there must be common resolve to eradicate it, particularly in the highlands where it had destroyed traditional leadership and social control.
“A compensation culture is before us. We must replace it with the desire for honesty and truth.
“Unreasonable compensatory claims camouflage laziness and a beggar mentality.
“We must rise above these if we are to achieve nation-building and development which, together, ride on sheer hard work and self-sacrifice.
“The PNG LNG project, which promises to transform the economy in the not-too-distant future, comes with its short-comings.
“We are in business with new players regarding new and unfamiliar resources and its economics of business.
“But, as a host country and people, we must play our part to welcome such developments.
“We must allow for compromises where necessary at the same time we expect our investors to understand and respect our rights to land and property where these life-changing projects are situated.”
Abal said, as acting prime minister, he was confident of the support of all other hardworking ministers who are committed to repositioning the country to deliver the PNG Vision 2050, the development strategic plan and the medium-term development plan.
He said the state enterprises ministry, under the leadership of Arthur Somare, “is driving the sovereign wealth fund initiative which, when realised, will result in the growth of consolidated revenue”.
“Only recently, Papua New Guineans themselves met in Kokopo in common resolve to request the government to pay attention and support the fertilisation and development of an indigenous business class in the country.
“The government has promised to assist them. We will do that immediately.
“As we reflect this Easter, let us give thanks to God Almighty and Jesus Christ for their grace in giving us this beautiful and resource-rich nation.”
Tribal gunfight leaves 11 dead
By JAMES APA GUMUNO
ELEVEN people have fallen victims to high-powered guns used in a tribal fight in the Southern Highlands’ Kagua-Erave district, The National reports.
Many are unaccounted for, believed dead, while others were wounded, assistant police commissioner and highlands divisional commander Simon Kauba said yesterday.
He said many people from the warring tribes, Kandine and Mui, were killed within a short time because of the use of high-powered guns.
Kauba said provincial police commander Teddy Tei organised 15 policemen to accompany the provincial peace mediation team to Kagua yesterday.
He said the team would be camping in Kagua and would call on the leaders from both parties together to work out a peace process.
He said police and concerned authorities in the province would not allow people to kill each other using high-powered guns.
Kauba said the people should lay down their arms and cooperate with the developers in their province to bring in tangible improvements and services.
He said such tribal fights would not bring anything good into the area.
He said fight would cause more destruction, deaths and deprive the people of basic services.
He appealed to the tribal leaders of the warring tribes to encourage their people to lay down their arms and work closely with the police and provincial peace mediation team in Kagua to restore peace.
Kauba said whatever damage and loss of life in the past “is gone and it is time the fighting stop”.
The fight started two weeks ago over the death of a senior public servant from the Kandine tribe.
The Kandine blamed Mui for the death and killed six of them with one seriously injured.
The Mui retaliated and killed three people from the Kandine tribe.
ELEVEN people have fallen victims to high-powered guns used in a tribal fight in the Southern Highlands’ Kagua-Erave district, The National reports.
Many are unaccounted for, believed dead, while others were wounded, assistant police commissioner and highlands divisional commander Simon Kauba said yesterday.
He said many people from the warring tribes, Kandine and Mui, were killed within a short time because of the use of high-powered guns.
Kauba said provincial police commander Teddy Tei organised 15 policemen to accompany the provincial peace mediation team to Kagua yesterday.
He said the team would be camping in Kagua and would call on the leaders from both parties together to work out a peace process.
He said police and concerned authorities in the province would not allow people to kill each other using high-powered guns.
Kauba said the people should lay down their arms and cooperate with the developers in their province to bring in tangible improvements and services.
He said such tribal fights would not bring anything good into the area.
He said fight would cause more destruction, deaths and deprive the people of basic services.
He appealed to the tribal leaders of the warring tribes to encourage their people to lay down their arms and work closely with the police and provincial peace mediation team in Kagua to restore peace.
Kauba said whatever damage and loss of life in the past “is gone and it is time the fighting stop”.
The fight started two weeks ago over the death of a senior public servant from the Kandine tribe.
The Kandine blamed Mui for the death and killed six of them with one seriously injured.
The Mui retaliated and killed three people from the Kandine tribe.
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