NARI EYES COMMERCIAL SHIFT FROM SUBSISTENCE FARMING

CAPTION: NARI Director Dr Nelson Simbiken speaking during the first Media Council Press Club at Stanley Hotel.

BY MARTINA TAKANENG

THE National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) highlights its challenges and its strategic plan to address the worrying decline in agricultural research and publication.

NARI Director Dr. Nelson Simbiken was the Keynote speaker during the first PNG Media Council’s Press Club at Stanley Hotel yesterday.

Dr Simbiken highlighted NARI’s challenges and the institute’s role in transforming agriculture by improving food security, empowering smallholder farmers, and aligning with national development while speaking to the PNG Media council and its partners.

Speaking at the Press Club, Dr. Nelson Simbiken said that the institution is pushing for the transformation from subsistence agriculture to commercialization to cater specifically for the smallholder farmers.

Dr. Simbiken calls on action from the National Government to support NARI in taking training directly to rural communities to ensure that the ‘last mile’ farmers, those in the most remote areas are reached and trained, adding that NARI’s vision is to empower smallholder farmers to see agriculture as their primary source of income.

He further explained that one of the institution’s pillars of reform is equip farmer with modern technology skills.
Dr. Simbiken said by focusing on empowering smallholders and integrating modern technology, NARI aims to restore the prestige of agricultural research and secure PNG’s economic future through the soil.