Farmers commend Nari’s Agriculture Innovations Show

THE National Agricultural Research Institute’s (Nari) two-day Agriculture Innovations show (AIS) can support local farmers seek information, and also to showcase their produce and ideas, farmers say.
The 11th AIS held at Bubia outside Lae, Morobe, started on Wednesday with the theme “Building Climate Resilient Agricultural Communities in PNG”.
Rice farmer from Komoria village in Karkar, Madang, Karinah Steven, was searching for information on galip nut for the past few years.
She was lucky to come across The galip nut Company’s information booth at the show.
The galip nut Company is a joint research development between Nari, University of Sunshine Coast and the University of Adelaide in Australia and funded by the Australian Centre for Agriculture Research (ACIAR).
The company was set up as part of research and development work to test the commercialising of galip nut in PNG.
“It was good that I attended this show,” Steven said.
“I’ve been seeking information on Galip Nut because people on Karkar Island grow the trees. We eat the fruit, make oil from it, and its waste we use for other purposes. It has long been a part of our diet.
“We heard that the galip nut has a market, but we didn’t know who or where it is.
“I believe that if we find a market, and align ourselves with it, many people on Karkar can be able to benefit from it.”