By XXXX, R. Bourdeix and J. Ollivier - In construction
Location Tavilo Research Centre, North Coast Road, East New Britain
Postal address PO Box 1846, Rabaul
Phone/Fax +675 983 9131/9227 - +675 983 9115
In 1986, the PNG Cocoa and Coconut Research Institute was established to conduct research for the cocoa and coconut industries in the country. In 2003, the Papua New Guinea Cocoa Coconut Institute (PNGCCI) was formed by the merger of PNG Cocoa and Coconut Research Institute (CCRI) and PNG Cocoa and Coconut Extension Agency (CCEA).
Location Tavilo Research Centre, North Coast Road, East New Britain
Postal address PO Box 1846, Rabaul
Phone/Fax +675 983 9131/9227 - +675 983 9115
Email: ceo@ccipng.com.pg
Murnas and
Kailie were old coconut and cocoa plantations during the colonial
administration period with a total area of 469 hectares. Murnas was a multi-crop
estate with coconut intercropped with cocoa, however, most of the cocoa have
died out due to neglect.
A brief history of Stewart Research Station
Murnas and
Kailie were old coconut and cocoa plantations during the colonial
administration period with a total area of 469 hectares. Murnas was a multi-crop
estate with coconut intercropped with cocoa, however, most of the cocoa have
died out due to neglect.
A small
part of Kailie was also planted with cocoa and again cocoa struggled under
secondary regrowth and eventually died out due to poor management and neglect. These
estates were abandoned for several years.
In January
1993, the Coconut and Cocoa Research Institute (CCRI) purchased the two plantations,
which became known as Stewart Research Station. The function of the station is
mainly to carry out coconut research. Stewart Research Station is located 40km
north of Madang.
The PNG
Copra Marketing Board and to a lesser extent the European Union were the main
funding agents in building this station. Stewart Research Station development
began four years ago (before 1997. In 1993 469 ha was cleared and a major drain
was excavated to drain out the water from a low-lying area which covered a
large area of Kailie. In 1994 major drainage work continued as well as
mechanical windrowing which allowed the first planting to take place.
The
construction of laboratories and office complex including a conference room and
staff room for extension activities was completed in 1996. The construction of
a mechanical and joinery workshop, nursery and fertiliser shed and single
workers compound were completed at the end of the year.
The
mechanical clearing of land started on 80 hectares in 1994 and continued with
another 25 hectares to let the first planting happen. In 1996 another 20 ha was
developed using manual labor. to prevent compaction and heterogeneity within
the blocks. In 1997, the repartition
of the land was as follows:
Fields
|
Surface
(hectare) |
Coconut
Germplasm collections (Talls and Dwarfs)
|
25
|
Seed
gardens in isolation blocks (MYD, MRD and PBD)
|
16
|
Coconut
Breeding trials and progeny rows
|
31
|
Cocoa
clonal Genotype x Environmental
|
8
|
Coconut
Agronomy Fertiliser trial
|
13
|
Cocoa
& coconut shade density trial
|
10
|
Area
currently under preparation
|
30
|
Total
|
133
|
The CCRI staff employed in 1997 were:
- Head of Coconut Agro & FS Jean Ollivier (detached from CIRAD),
- Head of Coconut breeding section Tore Ovasuru,
- Head of Downstream Processing section Aisak Pue, Senior Research Officer,
- Entomologist Laurence OIlivier (detached from CIRAD),
- Senior Research Officer Farm Systems Will Akus,
- Extension Liaison Officer Joe Wasem,
- ARO Coconut Breeding Otto Hattaba,
- ARO Coconut Agoronomy Pius Pulo,
- ARO Entomology Roy Nangai,
- Farm manager Bob Lotto.
The Stewart Research Station of CCRI, located at Murunas in Madang Province, has conducted breeding and evaluation studies, as well as agronomy and entomology research. CIRAD has played an important collabolorative role in the establishment of this research centre providing staff, training, technical assistance and funding.
Towards Status of International Coconut Collection
In 2007, an agreement was signed an agreement between the government of Papua New Guinea as host of the international coconut genebank for the South Pacific and the International plant genetic resources institute acting on behalf of the International coconut genetic resources network (COGENT) and the Food and agriculture organization of the united nations (FAO) acting on behalf of the governing body of the International treaty on plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.
Article 2g of this agreement (Rights and obligations of the Parties to this agreement) states that if the orderly maintenance of the ICG is impeded or threatened by whatever event, including force majeure, the Secretary of the TREATY and Bioversity International, with the approval of the Host Government, shall assist in its evacuation or transfer, to the extent possible.
Article 2g of this agreement (Rights and obligations of the Parties to this agreement) states that if the orderly maintenance of the ICG is impeded or threatened by whatever event, including force majeure, the Secretary of the TREATY and Bioversity International, with the approval of the Host Government, shall assist in its evacuation or transfer, to the extent possible.
Production data and comments from Dr Roland Bourdeix's visit in 2012
SRS have an area of 400 hectares, of which 300 planted with coconut and/or cocoa, 100 unused or swampy areas. Among the 300 ha, 250 ha are interplanted with coconut and cocoa, and 50 ha with only coconut. It was obtained 19 tons of copra in 3 months. So the production can be estimated at 19x4=76 tons of copra per year, so in average 0.25 ton of copra per hectare and per year, which is very low and indicate that not all the nuts are turned to copra.
6000 nuts makes one ton of coprah, so about 170 g of coprah per nut, which is quite small as nuts are
generally considered as large in PNG. 15 nuts make on liter of virgin oil, which as sold 6 kina per liter. Only 15 to 20 liter of Virgin coconut oil was produced at SRS per week.
"In our opinion, during the last 8-10 years, the management of the genebank was not optimal. More than 30 hectares of coconut palms were planted at the Stewart research station during the last 10 years, but instead of regenerating the genebank, researchers planted the commercial hybrid MRD x RIT in the genebank and in the other fields of SRS. During this time the coconut palms in the genebank became very tall and it is now dangerous and costly to undertake the requested controlled pollination in order to regenerate the genebank.
The Coconut Researchers in SRS remains strongly isolated from the scientific and geographic point of view. The recent reorganization of the COGENT network should contribute to break this scientific isolation (creation of International Thematic Action Groups) and improve communication at international level, especially using videos. There is also a need to change habits and learn to work with non conventional stakeholders, such as for instance city landscapers and tourism industry. An international genebank should have a leading role in the region, and must diffuse scientific information and train students and stakeholders. During the last 10 years, the scientific influence of SRS remained limited, especially at international level."
"In our opinion, during the last 8-10 years, the management of the genebank was not optimal. More than 30 hectares of coconut palms were planted at the Stewart research station during the last 10 years, but instead of regenerating the genebank, researchers planted the commercial hybrid MRD x RIT in the genebank and in the other fields of SRS. During this time the coconut palms in the genebank became very tall and it is now dangerous and costly to undertake the requested controlled pollination in order to regenerate the genebank.
The Coconut Researchers in SRS remains strongly isolated from the scientific and geographic point of view. The recent reorganization of the COGENT network should contribute to break this scientific isolation (creation of International Thematic Action Groups) and improve communication at international level, especially using videos. There is also a need to change habits and learn to work with non conventional stakeholders, such as for instance city landscapers and tourism industry. An international genebank should have a leading role in the region, and must diffuse scientific information and train students and stakeholders. During the last 10 years, the scientific influence of SRS remained limited, especially at international level."
Germplasm now endangered by the Bogia Disease
 |
An excellent old paper from Post Courier,
dated Wednesday June 11, 1997
|
 |
| Satellite image of Stewart Research Station retouched and improved by R. Bourdeix |
