NARI: Livestock programme progressing

 THE National Agricultural Research Institute says its livestock research programme has progressed well.

Livestock scientist Martin Lobao said the programmes was able to identify opportunities for increasing livestock production through new demonstrated feed technologies.

Lobao said this had increased production helping farmers to sustain their farms.

Lobao said the technology looked at the feeding of livestock, taking into consideration the environment and the feed value.

He said the research team had been able to evaluate the formulation of feed created from the local resources found near the farm sites.

He said this included the use of crops such as sweet potato and cassava.

Lobao said the National Agricultural Research Institute with the assistance of the European Union had been able to carry out the programme in Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.

“We have sites at Tambul in Western Highlands, Madang and the Yule Island in Central,” he said.

“The programmes aim to help farmers sustain their livestock through local feed resources.

“As it is, the costs of imported feed have had an impact on the farmers.

“What we are trying to do through the programme is provide a cost effective way of maintaining their farms.”