Proceedings of the Second Papua New Guinea Food Crops Conference

Abstract

In May 1975 the first Papua New Guinea Food crops Conference was held at the University of Technology in Lae. When the call for papers was made by the organizers (Michael Bourke, Alan Kimber, and Ken Willson), they envisaged some l5 authors coming forward at the most. Consequently, when over 40 papers were offered, we were staggered by the amount of work being conducted in the food crop field in the soon-to-be independent country. The conference was generally considered a success. As well as bringing to light much previously unreported work, it provided a forum for much discussion, often heated, between nutritionists and agriculturists and between the "old guard" and the more recent arrivals on the food crop scene. In 1979 Carrad, Bourke, and Heywood suggested in their History of Agriculture Discussion Paper No. 34 that a second food crops conference be held in 1980. The Department of Primary Industry and the University of Papua New Guinea agreed to sponsor such a conference. An organizing committee met in Goroka in February 1980. It consisted of Michael Bourke (DPI, Aiyura), Peter Heywood (Institute of Medical Research, Madang), Kesi Kesavan (Faculty of Agriculture, UPNG), Leon Schanley (Summer Institute of Linguistics, Ukarumpa), Patrick Markwick-Smith (Goroka Teachers' College), Margaret Nakikl.ls (National Planning Office), Ken Newton (DPI, Konedobu), and Tekura Reriagi (bPI, Goroka). The conference itself was held over a four-day period (14th-18th July 1980) at the Goroka Teachers' College. The 1980 National Nutrition Conference was held rn Goroka over the same week and joint sessions were held for half of the week. About 250 people attended the Food Crops Conference. They came from national and provincial government departments, the universities, missions and private enterprise. All 19 provinces in PNG were represented and as well, there were 19 participants from overseas countries, mostly in the South Pacific region. The conference was opened by the Eastern Highlands Minister for Agriculture, Mr Thomas Ameri. ln a crowded week 54 papers were presented and most of these are reproduced here. As well four workshops were held. These were: l. The relationship between nutritionists and agriculturists 2. Farmer training in food crop production 3. Research priorities for food crops 4. Land use planning and soil conservation Papers from the farmer training and research priorities -workshops are reproduced here. Also, 28 poster displays were presented and summaries of 16 of these are included. A number of special interest groups were organized by various participants in the evenings. These were on the PNG Agriculture Society; a national plant genetic resources c6nunittee; the South Pacific Root Crop Project;· a National Scientific Officers Association; extension techniques; library resources; and formulation of conference recommendations. Participants even managed to attend a conference banquet and two disco sessions! Recommendations made throughout the main sessions and workshops were compiled and presented to the full gathering on the final morning. Most of these were accepted and are included here. They are being acted on by the National Government Food and Nutrition Implementation Committee. It is reasonable to ask what does such a conference as this one achieve? It is an expensive exercise. It seems a long way removed from the subsistence and cash crop food producers in the villages who earn a very low income and who do not enjoy the same privileges as most of the conference participants. The conference was a very stimulating one for most of the participants. There was a great transfer of ideas between people. The interaction between nutritionists and agriculturists was particularly noticeable and beneficial. The conference brought to notice much work in research and development of food crops in the country and the South Pacific Region. Many of the papers presented were very good and this volume is certain to become an excellent reference source. In balance, the investment of time and money by the participants, their employees and the organizers was worth it. The challenge now is to transmit the information and enthusiasm from such a meeting into action to help the nation's food crop farmers. For they are our clients and it is to them that this volume is dedicated. R.M. Bourke Aiyura. January, 1981