ADVANCING PAPUA NEW GUINEA'S FOOD PRODUCTION THROUGH THE USE OF INORGANIC OR MINERAL FERTILIZERS: A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE

摘要

Papua New Guinea has extensive inorganic, agricultural, forestry, fisheries and marine resources. About 80 % of the rural people rely on subsistence and semi-subsistence agriculture to produce food and cash crops. Many studies have established beyonddoubt that there is a close relationship between fertilizer consumption and increased agricultural productivity. Applications of inorganic or mineral fertilizers have greatly increased food production in developed as well as in developing countries. Withthe perpetual increasing population of PNG, agricultural activities will certainly intensify which will result in the concomitant problems such as; shortages of cultivable lands, shorter fallow periods and declining soil fertility levels. To attain increased food production, the use of inorganic fertilizers and other improved agricultural technologies is unavoidable. PNG will definitely remain a subsistence level food producing country if the use of inorganic fertilizers is not encouraged and promoted.