UNIT 2: BRIEF HISTORY OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SYSTEMS IN PNG

AND THE WORLD

Origin of extension and advisory services

Term Extension =1st used to describe adult extension program organised by Oxford &
Cambridge universities in England starting in 1867
=the universities extended their programs beyond the campus & into the neighbouring
communities

-The system was formally adopted by the Universities in the US

-In 1914 agricultural extension was officially added in 1914 as part of each university’s
official mandate
=During early 20th century, UK transferred responsibility for agricultural extension activities
to the Ministry of Agriculture. These activities were officially called advisory services
-The term advisory services was used by most European countries as they developed similar
advisory services within their respective Ministries of Agriculture
-US& Canada still use the term extension services

History of agriculture extension in PNG(McKillop, 1976)

1873 - 1946

Imperialism

-Rapid industrialization in Europe created demand to expand markets

-Traders, military commanders and missionaries from Europe came to PNG with different
motives. It was those with an interest in trade stimulated agric. expansion.
-In 1873 Germans established base on Mioko, Duke of York.
-German New Guinea administered by Neu Guinea Kompagnie
-Most of the products required by colonial powers were agricultural products
-Main aim was to develop the agricultural system of colonialism –plantation

Plantation system

= Large scale agricultural system characterised by the use of literate managers from an
industrial background to direct large numbers of unskilled labourers in the establishment,
growing, and processing of crops supposedly in demand at world markets (McKillop, 1976)

-Benefits contributed to the society as a result of the plantation systems

*provision of infrastructure – roads, schools, clinic, etc
*unused land brought into production increasing income
*subsistence farmers enter into cash economy
*responsible for scientific farming – improved ways of farming

Disadvantage of the plantation system

-plantation system has heavy costs
-land alienation
-labour recruitment/often brutal (especially under German rule)
-failure of tobacco/Kompagnie turned to coconut

Agricultural Research
-major benefit of the plantation system
-stimulated agric research
-German New Guinea was effective in research work mostly of cash crops
-lack of experts to conduct research work in Papua (under Australia)
-Experimental stations set up at Astrolobe Bay and in Bogia (tobacco, coffee & cotton)
-Rabaul botanical gardens/herbarium & library
-1920 – Director of agriculture was appointed
-1929 – Kerevat demonstration plantation & Native agriculture school was established

Native Policy and Administration

-Native policies were far from popular

-Native people were engaged to boost the colonial production of economic crops
-Policies and laws were formulated for this

The Missions and Agricultural Development

-Mission work between 1875 & 1972

-played agric. extension role encouraging villagers to produce cash crops new crop varieties.
They give advice on crop production to marketing. eg: introduced rice to Mekeo people of
Bereina in 1917
-Other examples: Waso vegetable growing project in Enga, Yangpeladidiman
-Importantly develop methods of communication with indigenous people (knowledge of local
customs & language)
-Mission established plantations (coconut) such as the Catholic Church
-Also develop farms for food crops-have more variety of crops produced than the village
agriculture
-introduced new crops and new ways of farming
-introductions of plants and livestock
-However, introduction of some new crops brought diseases such as blister smut on maize

Some Village Agricultural Projects

-Before Second World War, little attention was given for village development.
-In 1927 village copra production was emphasised
-In 1929 a native agricultural school was initiated in Rabaul (Kerevat)
-In 1937 agricultural training was established in Madang, in 1938 at Baiynik (ESP) and
Aiyura
-In 1933 a rice growing project was initiated in Talasea
-In 1917 rice was introduced to the Mekeo people
-Territory of PNG promoted the production of rice on a national scale but failed

Agricultural Development to 1942

-By 1942 a general pattern of village agricultural development had emerged for both Papua
and the mandated territory
-villagers were encouraged to involve in the cash economy in the production of cash crops
(no longer as plantation labourers)
- Rural economy based on the ‘peasant proprietorship’ began to unfold & regulations were
initiated to facilitate such development

1946 - 1976
The ‘New Deal”

-During 2nd WW, P & NG was brought together under the ANGAU.
-In 1946 the DASF was established following the Australian structure. Divided into 5
divisions with different responsibilities. One was the division of agricultural extension. -
Employed 54 agricultural officers
- Extension viewed as One way communication:
Scientist/Scholar Extension Officer People

Food Crop Phase

-In 1947, 2 extension officers conducted nutritional survey with the assistance of the
Australian Institute of Anatomy
- Findings show protein lacking in diets
-DASF placed improvement in diets: introducing chicken & poultry & rice growing projects
(Mekeo, Sepik, Madang& Bougainville)
-Rural Progress Societies: (i) process & market rice for growers (ii) assist with mechanised
cultivation of rice

Plantation Revival
-Around 1951
-Shift from food crops to plantation crops
-1st plantation crop: cocoa & coconut in ENBP coffee in the highlands in 1953
-Work of extension patrol officers in COFFEE. Held meetings with villagers in the night
If villagers interested, Officers help in setting up nurseries/ help select suitable land/show
how to plant shade trees/plant coffee trees.
-engage village contact farmers for village extension work in coffee
-District agric officer conduct field days – teach farmers in all aspects of coffee production

Development of Farmer Training

-Through initiatives of the extension workers several training programs were organised for
the farmers
-Farmer training programs were initiated in 1955, ceased in 1970
-farmer trainees assist in extension programs
-Since then (1970) farmer training program has been restricted to farmers attending special
vocational school

Introduction of Cattle
-During 1959-60, cattle projects were initiated in WH near Baiyer
-In 1959: extension work was stepped up = increase of manpower, both expats & nationals

The Principle of Concentration – World Bank Phase

-concentrate on areas likely to give highest economic returns
-Concentrate on LSS & LTC (Land Tenure Conversion)
-oil palm & tea based on nucleus estate smallholder model
Toward a National Extension Service
-Unified National Extension Service was in line with bureaucratic system
-Research and extension were together

1997 Onwards
-Organic law decentralizes the extension services to provincial and local level government
-Prior to 1977 agric extension was the responsibility of DASF (now DAL) operated from
Pom with the help of 4 regional officers.
-Extension services was well disciplined, funded, staffed & managed.
- The organic law of 1977 led to the creation of 19 provinces where responsibilities were
shifted to Provincial governments
-Agricultural research, Education and Quarantine Inspection remained the national
responsibility.
-Research has become autonomous and placed under the ministry of education, science and
technology
-No link among research, extension & education

Present Agricultural Extension Services

1. National extension
2. Privatised extension
3. Combine national and provincial extension
4. Managing agents

National extension
=provide to special rural development projects that receive foreign assistance such as ADB,
world bank
=project implemented with assistance from project management units from DAL
=lack of continuity once project funds are used up

Privatised extension
=such as CIC, and OPIC (coffee & oil palm)
=providing extension for special cash crops

Combine national and provincial extension

=cocoa, coconut, spices, rubber
=national DAL provides coordination/undertakes training of provincial staff/overall project
administration/provides project funds
=provincial govts. fund the counterpart staff in implementing the projects
=aim of this approach: strengthen extension effort and to provide continuous support to
smallholders/farmers
=Problem: suffers from a lack of qualified personnel/inadequate funding/poor industry
involvement

Private Management Agents

=dev. as a result of government’s plantation redistribution scheme & the agric bank of PNG’s
credit conditions.
=mostly for tree crops
=offered little continuity – service terminated once loans have been repaid