***aCe***
Dryland rice has bumper yield
By James Kila
THE climate in Eastern Highlands Province has already been documented in the Guinness Book of Records as the best. Some call it “the land of perpetual spring”.
From this conducive climatic condition where people live leisurely and food grows in abundance, another history has been recorded. This time an introduced rice variety from China called Golden Mountain No.1 has recorded a harvest cycle from one stalk 13 times.
This multiple yields was described as “unusual and mysterious” because the record surpassed the same dryland rice variety grown in other parts of the world, especially Asia and Africa.
The rice was first sown at Nagamiufa near Goroka on March 9, 2000, and its first harvest was on July 25, 2000, with a yield of 6.75 tonnes a hectare. The second harvest was on January 9, 2001, with a yield of 6.39 tonnes a hectare. The yield of the third harvest — on April 20, 2001 — was 6.30 tonnes. The ninth harvest for the dryland rice was 6.3 tonnes to the hectare. The 13th harvesting was on May 11, last year with a yield of 4.16 tonnes. A special session was held at the Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University JUNCAO Research Institute in China to discuss this unique achievement in Eastern Highlands.
Professor Lin Zhanxi, head of the China expert group, who was in charge of this project, said PNG dryland rice’s multiple harvesting technique was a leader in the world.
Provincial Administrator Munare Uyassi, noting this remarkable achievement, said that rice can not only grow well in the province but also yield high quality grains.
Dryland rice cultivation in EHP began in July 1998, through an implementation program conducted by the Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University JUNCAO Research Institute. However, before that in 1995, Brian Waii from the province’s natural resource office attended the first JUNCAO Technology International training class in Fuzhou, sponsored by the Minister of Trading and Commerce of China.
After the class he proposed to Prof Lin Zhanxi to bring JUNCAO Technology into EHP.
There was no previous rice production in Eastern Highlands. People depended on imports. Foreign experts were invited to investigate the possibility of growing rice in Eastern Highlands, but all feed-backs were negative.
After the severe drought from EI Nino in 1997, the provincial government brought out the issue of Chinese JUNCAO expert team.
According to local climatic and soil conditions, it was suggested that paddy rice could not be planted in Eastern Highlands as no irrigation system was available, therefore dry land rice could be possible.
In July 1998, the first trial of dryland rice planting commenced near Goroka conducted by Prof Lin Zhanxi, Lin Yuexin. Lin Zhansen and Zhu Wiehua with assistance from the officers of the EH Natural Resources office. It was harvested on December 27 with a filled grain percentage of 7.19 per cent. That convincing result proved dryland rice could be planted in EHP.
The Governor of Fujian Province of China on May 16, 2000, following this impressive result signed an agreement with then governor of Eastern Highlands Peti Lafanama of which dryland rice was listed by the Fujian Province as an aid technique to EHP to be implemented by the Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University JUNCAO Research Institute.
The dryland rice project in EHP has achieved remarkable success with the great efforts of both governments and the Chinese group for the last four years.
The Chinese ambassador to PNG and the commercial counsellor have inspected dryland rice project base in Eastern Highlands on many occasions and have commented favourably.
The first dryland rice projected base was set up at Nagamiufa near Goroka with four main functions, purposely for experimenting, demonstrating, training and breeding.
Moreover, dryland rice production was later extended from demonstration in the base to household production. Until June 2004, Chinese expert groups provided guidance for more than 1020 households with overall planting area of more than 100ha.
Today, many small-holder farmers in EHP are growing rice plots either in their backyards or in their village garden. Several milestones were also created by local rice farmers in Eastern Highlands.
Kopi Manove, from Nagamiufa, planted dryland rice in an area of 2.4ha. The yield reached 8.5 tonnes per hectare. Another successful farmer, Apere Goso planted 10ha of dryland rice, making him possibly a leader in dryland cultivation in the country.
Two leading rice farmers in EHP —Goso and Francis Harokave — plan to produce rice in large quantities to supply the local market.
With the success of dryland rice, the history of EHP now takes a new turn.
Ends//
By James Kila
THE climate in Eastern Highlands Province has already been documented in the Guinness Book of Records as the best. Some call it “the land of perpetual spring”.
From this conducive climatic condition where people live leisurely and food grows in abundance, another history has been recorded. This time an introduced rice variety from China called Golden Mountain No.1 has recorded a harvest cycle from one stalk 13 times.
This multiple yields was described as “unusual and mysterious” because the record surpassed the same dryland rice variety grown in other parts of the world, especially Asia and Africa.
The rice was first sown at Nagamiufa near Goroka on March 9, 2000, and its first harvest was on July 25, 2000, with a yield of 6.75 tonnes a hectare. The second harvest was on January 9, 2001, with a yield of 6.39 tonnes a hectare. The yield of the third harvest — on April 20, 2001 — was 6.30 tonnes. The ninth harvest for the dryland rice was 6.3 tonnes to the hectare. The 13th harvesting was on May 11, last year with a yield of 4.16 tonnes. A special session was held at the Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University JUNCAO Research Institute in China to discuss this unique achievement in Eastern Highlands.
Professor Lin Zhanxi, head of the China expert group, who was in charge of this project, said PNG dryland rice’s multiple harvesting technique was a leader in the world.
Provincial Administrator Munare Uyassi, noting this remarkable achievement, said that rice can not only grow well in the province but also yield high quality grains.
Dryland rice cultivation in EHP began in July 1998, through an implementation program conducted by the Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University JUNCAO Research Institute. However, before that in 1995, Brian Waii from the province’s natural resource office attended the first JUNCAO Technology International training class in Fuzhou, sponsored by the Minister of Trading and Commerce of China.
After the class he proposed to Prof Lin Zhanxi to bring JUNCAO Technology into EHP.
There was no previous rice production in Eastern Highlands. People depended on imports. Foreign experts were invited to investigate the possibility of growing rice in Eastern Highlands, but all feed-backs were negative.
After the severe drought from EI Nino in 1997, the provincial government brought out the issue of Chinese JUNCAO expert team.
According to local climatic and soil conditions, it was suggested that paddy rice could not be planted in Eastern Highlands as no irrigation system was available, therefore dry land rice could be possible.
In July 1998, the first trial of dryland rice planting commenced near Goroka conducted by Prof Lin Zhanxi, Lin Yuexin. Lin Zhansen and Zhu Wiehua with assistance from the officers of the EH Natural Resources office. It was harvested on December 27 with a filled grain percentage of 7.19 per cent. That convincing result proved dryland rice could be planted in EHP.
The Governor of Fujian Province of China on May 16, 2000, following this impressive result signed an agreement with then governor of Eastern Highlands Peti Lafanama of which dryland rice was listed by the Fujian Province as an aid technique to EHP to be implemented by the Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University JUNCAO Research Institute.
The dryland rice project in EHP has achieved remarkable success with the great efforts of both governments and the Chinese group for the last four years.
The Chinese ambassador to PNG and the commercial counsellor have inspected dryland rice project base in Eastern Highlands on many occasions and have commented favourably.
The first dryland rice projected base was set up at Nagamiufa near Goroka with four main functions, purposely for experimenting, demonstrating, training and breeding.
Moreover, dryland rice production was later extended from demonstration in the base to household production. Until June 2004, Chinese expert groups provided guidance for more than 1020 households with overall planting area of more than 100ha.
Today, many small-holder farmers in EHP are growing rice plots either in their backyards or in their village garden. Several milestones were also created by local rice farmers in Eastern Highlands.
Kopi Manove, from Nagamiufa, planted dryland rice in an area of 2.4ha. The yield reached 8.5 tonnes per hectare. Another successful farmer, Apere Goso planted 10ha of dryland rice, making him possibly a leader in dryland cultivation in the country.
Two leading rice farmers in EHP —Goso and Francis Harokave — plan to produce rice in large quantities to supply the local market.
With the success of dryland rice, the history of EHP now takes a new turn.
Ends//