Sugarcane in Papua New Guinea

Abstract

Plans to establish commercial sugar production in Papua New Guinea have been backed up by many years of field trials with sugar-cane. These trials have been carried out in the Markham Valley by agronomists at the Bubia Agriculture Research Centre. The programme was directed by Mr Malcolm Hunter from 1965 to 1971, when he left Papua New Guinea. Subsequent work has been directed by Mr. J.H. Sumbak, Agronomist-in-charge at Bubia who here reviews the programme and results to date and assesses their practical -implications for commercial sugar-cane growing with particular reference to the Markham Valley.