Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Describe the main features of the PNG economy and the role of agriculture;
2. Describe the topography, climate, population distribution, employment and income patterns, transport and communication systems of PNG as they affect agricultural production and development;
3. Describe subsistence, semi-commercial, commercial, smallholder and larger holder farming systems;
4. Understand the concepts of sustainability of resource utilization, soil fertility, soil conservation, and watershed management in relation to agricultural production and development.
Role and contributions of agriculture to the economy, agricultural production practices and effect on sustainability, biodiversity, and land degradation; Land tenure and land use for agricultural production; Ecological and socio-economic factors affecting distribution and production of crops and livestock; Issues of population growth and impact on land use, cash cropping and food security; The importance of farming systems practiced in PNG; Post-harvest activities with relevance to the economy.
Bourke, R. M., Harwood, T., Food and agriculture in Papua New Guinea, ANU E Press, Canberra, Australia, 2009.
Papua New Guinea Journal of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Ruthenberg, H., Farming systems in the tropics, Clarendon Press, Oxford, UK, 1980.
Wrigley, G., Principles of agriculture Tropical Agricultural Series, Longmans, London, UK, 1981.
Continuous assessment 40%
Written examination 60%
Phone: +675 473 4999 Fax: +675 475 7776
