RESEARCH, POLICY AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUSTAINABLE FARMING SYSTEMSIN PAPUA NEW GUINEA

摘要

The farming systems development (FSD) approach is recognised as crucial to sustainable agriculture and rural development in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Being holistic, it has potential to help meet the increasing demand of rapidly changing socioeconomic environments; to consider the complex cropping and farming systems, especially of smallholder semi-subsistence farmers with many on- and off-farm influences; and to address long-term issues of marginal and often degraded land and environmental resources.Considerations can also be given to indigenous farmer practices and knowledge and to the welfare of rural communities, especially of women involved in agriculture. This paper describes the existing farming systems in PNG, highlights the need for the farming systems development approach, provides an assessment of past and present research and development on farming systems, and outlines some important policy and support services that are implemented for the development of farming systems in Papua New Guinea. The paper brings out new research thrusts and highlights some emerging issues for the sustainable agricultural and rural development in the country. Although most of the essential ingredients of systems approach are recognised and followed in the agricultural and rural development in PNG, their effectiveness and impact have been at variance due to a variety of reasons, including poor infrastructure and institutions, weak implementation capacity, and lack of efficient management and co-ordination. Therefore, the challenge for the PNG Government and institutions is to improve rural infrastructure, institutions and delivery services such as research, extension, marketing, credit, information, access, other support services, and manpower capacity to co-ordinate, manage and implement.