Published Wednesday, 29 November, 2006 at 10:38 AM
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries
The Honourable Tim Mulherin
RESEARCHERS TACKLE PNG SWEET POTATO YIELD DECLINE
The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries is leading a $2 million project focussing on the major food source for 4.7 million Papua New Guineans - the sweet potato.
Primary Industries and Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin said the world-wide yield decline had been particularly harsh in the South Pacific and while specific causes are still being debated, the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries has homed in on the impact of virus and virus-like diseases.
"The yield decline is a major concern for a population reliant on the 2.9 million tonnes of sweet potatoes worth an estimated $700 million,'' Mr Mulherin said.
“PNG has a per capita consumption of 500kg annually which equates to 63 per cent of their dietary energy, whereas Australians consume just 2kg per person per year of sweet potatoes.”
DPI&F sweet potato research and extension specialist Eric Coleman said there were definite symptoms linked to viral pathogens appearing on sweet potato plants in PNG and the collection of plant material and testing for pathogens was underway with an objective to remove the viruses.
“The virus results in weakened plants with low yield potential, especially when exposed to additional environmental stress,” Mr Coleman said.
“We will conduct yield tests with clean, disease-free plants and select 20 of the superior performance plant selections.
“Unlike previous PNG crop enhancement schemes, we are aiming to adopt a commercial approach through working with intensive growers on the PNG Highlands.
“Even a small improvement in yield through encouraging families to continually introduce ‘clean’ fresh plant material will be a tremendous breakthrough.”
Amongst the project partners is the PNG Fresh Produce Development Agency (FPDA) which has 30 extension workers distributing crop information and planting material at a village level.
The major source of funding for the project is from external groups, primarily the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research with DPI&F contributing human and infrastructure resources.
Mr Mulherin said Queensland was at the forefront of world class sweet potato yield and disease research.
“With fewer than 100 sweet potato growers based predominantly in Queensland, astute research and extension activity has seen the industry grow from a $12 million annual turnover in 1999 to be currently valued at $40million,” he said.
Partners in the PNG project entitled “Reducing pest and disease impacts on yield in selected PNG sweet potato production systems” with DPI&F include the National Agricultural Research Institute of PNG; FPDA; National Agricultural Quarantine Inspection Agency of PNG; Queensland University of Technology; and Sydney-based South Pacific region agricultural consultant Graham Jackson.
Media: 323 96530
Photograph available on request.
Primary Industries and Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin said the world-wide yield decline had been particularly harsh in the South Pacific and while specific causes are still being debated, the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries has homed in on the impact of virus and virus-like diseases.
"The yield decline is a major concern for a population reliant on the 2.9 million tonnes of sweet potatoes worth an estimated $700 million,'' Mr Mulherin said.
“PNG has a per capita consumption of 500kg annually which equates to 63 per cent of their dietary energy, whereas Australians consume just 2kg per person per year of sweet potatoes.”
DPI&F sweet potato research and extension specialist Eric Coleman said there were definite symptoms linked to viral pathogens appearing on sweet potato plants in PNG and the collection of plant material and testing for pathogens was underway with an objective to remove the viruses.
“The virus results in weakened plants with low yield potential, especially when exposed to additional environmental stress,” Mr Coleman said.
“We will conduct yield tests with clean, disease-free plants and select 20 of the superior performance plant selections.
“Unlike previous PNG crop enhancement schemes, we are aiming to adopt a commercial approach through working with intensive growers on the PNG Highlands.
“Even a small improvement in yield through encouraging families to continually introduce ‘clean’ fresh plant material will be a tremendous breakthrough.”
Amongst the project partners is the PNG Fresh Produce Development Agency (FPDA) which has 30 extension workers distributing crop information and planting material at a village level.
The major source of funding for the project is from external groups, primarily the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research with DPI&F contributing human and infrastructure resources.
Mr Mulherin said Queensland was at the forefront of world class sweet potato yield and disease research.
“With fewer than 100 sweet potato growers based predominantly in Queensland, astute research and extension activity has seen the industry grow from a $12 million annual turnover in 1999 to be currently valued at $40million,” he said.
Partners in the PNG project entitled “Reducing pest and disease impacts on yield in selected PNG sweet potato production systems” with DPI&F include the National Agricultural Research Institute of PNG; FPDA; National Agricultural Quarantine Inspection Agency of PNG; Queensland University of Technology; and Sydney-based South Pacific region agricultural consultant Graham Jackson.
Media: 323 96530
Photograph available on request.