Status of research-extension linkages in Papua New Guinea

Outlining the state of research-extension linkages in his country, Dr. Raghunath Ghodake, Director-General, Papua New Guinea National Agricultural Research　Institute (NARI), noted that although a resource-rich country, Papua New Guinea faces major challenges to promoting food security and nutrition with an estimated 7 million food-insecure people in a nation where 80% of the population is dependent on agriculture. 

Listing the complex interactions in smallholder agriculture, relating not only to commerce and infrastructure, but also to sectors like health and law and order, Dr. Ghodake underlined challenges in coordinating policy, ICT and other infrastructure in the interest of all stakeholders.

In recognition of the complex and sometimes non-linear trajectory of development, NARI aims to be a facilitator of innovation rather than follow more traditional extension roles, focused only on supplying technologies and knowledge. For extension to be demand-driven and focused on outcome and impact, rather than only inputs and outputs, Dr. Ghodake stressed it was important to realize that “extension is a process not an organization.” To ensure that extension leads to yield gains, Papua New Guinea has launched the Agricultural Research for Development (AR4D) initiative. “AR4D is the paradigm shift we accepted. Under AR4D, research output is dedicated for development impacts.” To ensure AR4D success, Papua New Guinea emphasizes ownership-based and community-driven extension.