Development of galip nut to commercial product hailed

By ELIZABETH VUVU
EAST New Britain Governor Nakikus Konga, pictured, has commended partners involved in the development of the galip nut into a commercial product.
Konga made the remarks at the galip nut launch last Friday at Rapopo Plantation Resort.
It was attended by officials from National Agriculture Research Institute, Australian Centre for Integrated Agriculture Research (ACIAR), Gazelle MP Jelta Wong and deputy-administrator socio-economic services Levi Mano.
Konga said galip had been a traditional crop for the province and in many societies in the country.
He commended Nari for years of research with development partners to come up with galip nut products.
Konga said Nari and its partners had launched the first PNG galip nut product with excellent nutritious qualities of 75 per cent oil and 14 per cent protein, with other unknown properties.
He said while the galip nut industry in the Pacific was still in its early stages, it had great potential to improve the livelihood of rural farmers in the small-to-medium enterprises sector.
The galip nut industry in the world is currently dominated by four nut species.
It has enjoyed a strong growth over the past decade.Konga was optimistic about its potential as a commercial product for province and country.