National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI)

AgResearch is one the seven Crown Research Institutes in New Zealand responsible for delivering innovative science and research outcomes specifically for the agricultural sector.

In their meeting with the Minister for International Trade and Investment, Richard Maru in Hamilton, New Zealand on Wednesday 24 April 2024, AgResearch said they were happy to partner NARI to provide research training and internships for Papua New Guinea agriculture scientists and graduates.

The National Agriculture Research Institute says this is because their statistics and database are poorly kept.

The Minister was forthright with the intention of his visit; to challenge NARI to look beyond subsistence and small-scale farming, and prioritise commercial farming.  

“After all the research, we still haven’t got rice imports replaced,” said Minister Maru. “So, you have to question the value of NARI. Nearly 49 years on, why haven’t we done that? Why are we still importing corn and bringing all the feed from outside the country? Why is it that we can’t grow our own chicken and we are importing from China? 300 million a year? And from Australia.