The Papua New Guinea National Agriculture Research System: It's Policy frame-work and Development perspective.

Abstract

The Papua New Guinea national agricultural research system has undergone four decades of organizational evolution in order to adapt to an ever increasing and changing demand for technology and information of the agricultural sector. This paper gives a brief account of the development of the national research system to the present time and highlights the major constraints and problems to the effective generation, adaptation, assessment and transfer of technology and information. From a global perspective of research and technical change, the paper emphasizes the need for the development of national research capacity in Papua New Guinea for sustained agricultural growth. The paper considers certain key policy issues that are crucial for the enhancement of agricultural research in the country. One of the major policy reforms required for an effective research system is the establishment of an autonomous, statutory, and public funded research organization for improvement of food crops, livestock and alternate crops. A number of policy recommendations are then drawn for consideration by the Department of Agriculture and Livestock and relevant Government agencies involved in implementing these institutional reforms.