To find out more about our Incentive Fund grants, click here: Enquiry form.

New FPDA laboratory improves food security and boosts household income

The production of high-quality potatoes is assisting farmers to produce greater yields for both personal consumption and the generation of household income. 

The establishment of the Fresh Produce Development Agency’s (FPDA) tissue culture laboratory has enhanced the organisation’s capacity to meet local farmer demand for plantlets.

With funding of PGK15.3 million from Australia’s Incentive Fund, FPDA built an integrated training facility and a tissue culture laboratory to improve the quality and productivity of fresh agricultural produce across Papua New Guinea. 

The new laboratory now enables FPDA to produce plantlets on-site by significantly increasing the output of high-quality seedlings for farmers in the region. 

Elizabeth Borosake is FPDA’s laboratory technician responsible for the potato program. Elizabeth helps with cultivating and monitoring the development of the potato plantlets. 

Elizabeth said FPDA works closely with farmers closely monitoring how species are performing in the field. 

“For example, in discussion with farmers, we’ve shifted our focus towards more sequoia varieties due to their strong performance in the field compared to other varieties.”

The lab commenced the first potato culture sampling on 15 August 2024 which yielded a 100% success rate, with no contaminated samples. The target is to produce up to 12,000 plantlets per month, a significant increase in FPDA’s production capacity.

Local farmers and community leaders expressed their appreciation for the new facilities and recognised their potential to improve agricultural productivity in the region. This is a boost for food security and livelihood opportunities and also for women farmers to access training and develop better farming techniques. 

“Community leaders have approached us here at FPDA enquiring about the new facilities and are eagerly looking forward to receiving quality seeds,” said the project manager Mr. Launa Mewie.

Although the lab is still in its early stages of operation, the new facility has provided a significant boost in addressing the challenges of potato plantlet demand and supply. FPDA aims to increase monthly production from 12,000 to 20,000 plantlets and extend the annual reach of agricultural extension training programs to over 8,500 farming households, with a focus on empowering women and young people. This will have a significant impact on the farming community in PNG.