In a recent meeting of agriculture commodity heads on the 3rd October 2024, brokered by the Minister for Agriculture and Department of Agriculture Secretary, the NARS Leaders discussed and expressed their concerns about the declining research capacity and capabilities to support agriculture productivity improvements, effective extension and information services, and business development enterprises for efficient agriculture value chains. The meeting passed a resolution to work together for a development of a National Agricultural Research System (NARS) policy framework. The aim of this policy is to foster a stronger cohesiveness among NARS institutions and stakeholders and support the formation of structures and institutional arrangements that are strengthening the delivery of agricultural research for development innovations necessary to drive the transformation of the agriculture sector anticipated in the National Agricultural Sector Plan 2024-2033. The National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) was asked to take a coordinating role for NARS in this endeavour.
Dr Miok Komolong presented the draft Inception Report and workplan for the next 3 months until the end of March. Key activities in the workplan include the formation of three working groups to address policy research and advocacy, agriculture commodities and markets, and agriculture extension and information systems. The groups will be guided and facilitated by the team of consultants to produce background and options papers on how the NARS can organise themselves under the different themes.
The revival of the PNG Journal of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries was also highlighted and the scientific staff in all NARS organisations are invited to submit their draft papers to the JAFF editor for consideration of publication in the Journal.
DAL Secretary Dr Bang cited Information & Knowledge and Data Collection, Monitoring & Evaluation as a key aspect of the NARS. He urged all stakeholders in the sector to participate fully and provide up to date information to the NARS on a timely basis to enable analysis of data and feedback to the government.
The sector NARS collaboration was first established in the country during 2007-2012 under the Australian Government supported Agricultural Research Development Support Facility (ARSDF).
NARI Director General Dr Nelson Simbiken summed up the meeting on an optimistic tone- he said, “NARS will make the Agriculture Sector move ten times faster than any other sector. It did 10 years ago by an all Papua New Guinean Team and it can be done again in line with the National Agriculture Sector Plan 2024-2033”.
