Future vegetable farming in Papua New Guinea - responding to resource constraints and population in a developing country: a case study

The population of Papua New Guinea (PNG) is growing at approximately 2.1% per year (CIA 2009) increasing the demand for food. Internal migration to peri-urban areas, in particular, the national capital of Port Moresby (PoM), and increased demand from an expanding middle class and expatriate mining and gas industry professionals are compounding food demands. Highland regions e.g. Eastern Highlands Province (EHP) grow a range of temperate (or western) vegetables, but distance from PoM, and poor transport infrastructure and services constrain consistency of supply and quality. Seasonally dry coastal lowlands and cooler highlands (Sogeri Plateau, Goilala District), in Central Province (CP) nearer PoM could increase production and improve supply. In 2008, about 50,000 tonnes of PoM’s 141,000 tonne/yr fresh produce came from peri-urban gardens (FPDA 2008) on on rocky, erodible, drought prone and difficult to irrigate sites (Bleeker 1975). Thus, sustainable production is unlikely. Vegetables, e.g. root and leafy crops, broccoli and zucchini are also produced in alluvial flood plains and on the Sogeri Plateau. Retail prices are unstable, and marketing is mostly through informal markets and direct supply to end users or supermarkets. Supply has not met PoM demand (FPDA 2008), so this study was initiated to identify constraints to and opportunities for expanding production to improve vegetable supplies to PoM markets.