Nari aims to boost farming

The National Business

By CLARISSA MOI
THE National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI) is looking at excelling in the delivery of science aimed at positive farmer impact in 2019 and in the medium term, according to director-general Dr Sergie Bang.
He said this was through diligent scientific research, technical publications and technology transfer.
“This can be achieved only through the improved generation of internal revenue and attracting external donor funds to better sustain the institute,” Bang said.
He said this year had been challenging but they had managed to achieve most of their planned activities.
Bang said there had been good progress with positive actions this year for the institute. It included:

  • A visit by the Australia Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research chief executive Prof Andrew Campbell who presented the shift in its strategic plan and focus in February;
  • the successful staging of the 10th Agricultural Innovation Show in May;
  • a galip product launch in Port Moresby in July with City Pharmacy Ltd supermarkets as marketing agents;
  • the participation in Apec 2018 during food security week in August;
  • opening five farmer resource centres in the Highlands region funded by the European Union under its rural economic development project from July 16-20 and Aug 22;
  • a workshop on scientific excellence and effective management of resources last month to strengthen performance and effectiveness of the institute in delivering good research results based on diligent management of resources; and,
  • Meeting attended on land commercialisation towards sustainability.

“We have continued to maintain clean financial records, with the latest being the 2017 unqualified audit report as certified by the auditor-general’s office,” Bang said.
“This year, the financial pressures eased a bit as Government funds became steadier.
“The institute continued to mobilise additional funds through internal revenue and project-based donor funding to supplement Government funding.
“To better enable this into the future, the institute has already developed the resource mobilisation plan framework 2018 – 2022.”
Bang said such achievements would not have been possible without everyone’s undivided efforts and teamwork towards the common goal of improving lives of lives of those dependent on agriculture.
“I am proud that NARI continues to make very good progress in accomplishing its strategic objective with positive impacts,” he said.