Nari backs galip nut as newest earner

By PISAI GUMAR
The galip nut can become a billion-kina industry for the country, says National Agriculture Research Institute (Nari) director Dr Sergie Bang.
He said this when launching the galip nursery project at Poahom on Monday with Morobe sustainable investment chief executive Benson Nablu, Poahom landowner Tim Kissing and deputy provincial administrator, economic sector, Masayang Moat.
The nursery has 10,000 galip trees.
Bang said Nari had spent 20 years studying the galip nut and if commercialised, it could become a billion-kina project.
He said the tree bore 1200 nuts per tree when in season.
Bang said the nut in pulp was worth K1.50 per kg.
Morobe agriculture and livestock division programme adviser Ken Elonaga said galip would add variety to Morobe’s cash crops such as cocoa, coffee and copra.
“The galip is a source of food with high content of oil, protein, vitamin and minerals,” he said.
“It’s nutritious. It also has similar values as a wood.
“If commercialised, it will create employment and income.”
Elonaga said the Agriculture and Livestock Department in Morobe had been implementing research findings of Nari on the galip nut in partnership with the provincial government, Lae and Nari Kerevat since last September.