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We suggest you go directly to NARI's own web site to get up to date information about NARI. Mr Bob McKillop reviewed outreach and Liaison processes in NARI and the following is taken from his report:- NARI establishment- The National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) was established in May 1997 to conduct applied and development-oriented research on food crops, alternative food and cash crops, livestock, and resource management issues. The development initiative for NARI arose from recognition that agricultural research, then under the Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL) had been neglected in the recent past. Constraints included a lack of funds, shortage of trained personnel, bureaucratic obstacles, inadequate institutional and infrastructure arrangements, and ineffective linkages with extension services, farmers and development agencies. A 1996 FAO study found that there was no organised strategy for the communication of research results and that this shortfall was compounded by the communication bias in the media used. This favoured the educated sector, with heavy reliance on printed matter in languages foreign to most farmers. The use of indigenous communications channels remained largely untapped. This paper also noted the lack of effective farmer participation in setting the research and development agenda in the agricultural sector. Vision- The vision for NARI was for a better Papua New Guinea (PNG) with improved food security and enhanced income levels as a result of efficient, sustainable production of high quality agricultural products based on improved science based technology and information. Its major target groups were to be smallholder semi-subsistence farmers in the rural areas of the country. Besides applied and adaptive research, NARI is responsible for providing authoritative technical, analytical and diagnostic services and up-to-date information to the entire agriculture sector in PNG. Mission- The mission of NARI is to contribute to agricultural development by identifying, generating, adapting and transferring agricultural technologies and information on food crops, alternative cash crops, livestock and resource management to: · Enhance the productivity, efficiency, stability and sustainability of smallholder agriculture; and · Foster and contribute to the general improvement of farmer incomes, and the welfare and food security of Papua New Guineans and the nation. From the outset, NARI set out to establish a new institutional culture for agricultural research in Papua New Guinea. It was to be one in which the institutional failures of the past would be overcome through the development of strong linkages with key stakeholders to define research priorities, ensure effective farmers participation in the research process and ensure that results were relevant to and disseminated effectively to target groups.
The whole report is available on the NARI resource CD-ROM. |
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