NARI farewells former CEO

 By James Laraki

TEARS followed freely. It was a moving occasion indeed. Staff and their families of NARI were on hand at Lae’s Nazab Airport last Monday to bid farewell to former Director General, Dr Raghunath Ghodake.  

Ghodake, who tried his best to comfort and plea with them not to cry, could not hold back his own when the public announcement system came alive to announced the arrival of PX103. He knew he was leaving Lae, in particular Bubia for the last time, a place he called home for the last 29 years. Staff and their families who came in numbers in a convey of vehicles from Bubia were left shattered as Dr Ghodake and his wife board PX104 to Port Moresby for the last time.

The emotions ran high as staff bid farewell to man who has been their leader, colleague, mentor, and a friend for over 29 years.  

Ghodake first arrived PNG in 1985 to work with the Department of Agriculture and Livestock. He was posted to Kuk Research Station where he worked as a resource economist. He was instrumental in the establishment of NARI and was appointed its first deputy director general in 1997. For the next 10 years (2003-13) he guided the institute to what it is today as its chief executive officer. Previously, Ghodake served eight years as economist, resource manager and farming systems at ICRISAT in India. He attained his Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural Economics in 1976 and Master of Science in Agricultural Science specialising in agricultural economics, in 1973 both at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi and Bachelor of Science in Agriculture at the Mahatma Phule Agricultural University Rahuri, India, in 1971.

Under Ghodake, NARI has grown to be a premier research organisation in the country and the region. Some of the major achievements include :  

• Successfully led and overseen all aspects of NARI’s Institutional planning, development, management, coordination, implementation, monitoring and evaluation;
• overseen development and management of land, infrastructure and facilities (valued at K150 million at seven establishment/locations around the country;
• overseen development of infrastructure and facilities such as the head office, 19 houses, chemistry laboratory, biotechnology laboratory, multi-purpose hall, fencing, roads, various equipment and implementation of rehabilitation activities;
• overseen planning, development and implementation of over 50 donor funded research, information and technical projects involving 50 organisations within PNG and overseas;
• release and dissemination of 28 sets of improved technologies for various agro ecological regions; and,
• Well-managed and developed corporate and statutory functions, including the NARI Strategic Results Framework 2012-20.

Under Ghodake’s leadership, NARI has developed substantially from a modest K3 million annual budget in 1997 to K30 million in 2013, effectively mobilised, developed and retained a pool of high calibre human resources including scientific, management, technical and ancillary staff in spite of low salary levels, and unattractive work locations. He was instrumental in the development of donor-funded projects with various partners both internally and externally.

NARI is thankful to Ghodake, now that it is better positioned to continue and enhance effectively in delivering on appropriate improved technologies and innovations to the farming and rural communities. That was his vision. 

Ghodake always wanted to NARI to continue its efforts to improve the welfare of the farming communities and it clearly the case in his final email to staff. 

“Today Mrs Ghodake and I are departing the PNG shores after twenty-nine years of stay and work in PNG. On this occasion we wish to present our very sincere gratitude and grateful thanks to all of you, including our ancillary, project and all other staff who are not on email,” he wrote.

“Indeed, this has been very exciting, enriching and rewarding journey with full of challenges and opportunities to make a difference. We enjoyed and cherished every bit of these. PNG turned out to be the first home for us and we will continue to have the spirit and sense of responsibility to this great nation.

“While departing, we take with us your affection and profound love, found memories of the work and other environments, enriching experience on all fronts, and our overall understanding and appreciation for PNG culture and its strengths. We will treasure these in our hearts forever and bank on these for years to come.

We all have dedicated, committed and contributed to the greatest cause of overall welfare enhancement to all in PNG.  The challenge continues and it is now on your shoulders to carry on towards further progression and excellence. We received excellent support and co-operation from each one of you and all of you, no matter what was involved and required. Together we struggled and performed to the best of our abilities in making a difference  through NARI mandate and mission and its pivotal role in today’s and tomorrow’s PNG.”  

The challenge is in our hands to support and continue his vision to make a positive difference not only to livelihoods but to prosperity and wellbeing of the farming communities.

Farewell Dr Ghodake.