Abstract
An agroforestry farming system is described from the Papua New Guina highlands (1400 to 2100 m) that has been developed by village growers since about 1960 and has expanded rapidly since about 1970. Major components of the system are numerous species of annual and perennial food crops (especially bananas), arabica coffee andCasuarina oligodon. It provides food, a cash crop and timber for construction and fuel. It is likely that returns on labour inputs are very favourable, but no formal assessments have been made. Evaluation of the system as a whole, and research on certain key components (casuarina ecology, banana cultivars, timing of operations) are suggested as high priority areas for systematic studies.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allen B (1983) Human geography of Papua New Guinea. J. Human Evolution 12: 1–23
Bourke R M (1976) Food crop farming systems used on the Gazelle Peninsular of New Britain.In Willson K and Bourke R M (ed). 1975 Papua New Guinea Food Crops Conference Proceedings, pp 81–100. Port Moresby/Papua New Guinea. Department of Primary Industry
Carrad B (1981) The coffee farming systems research project. Coffee Industry Board Research Newslletter 1(1): 7–10. Goroka/Papua New Guinea. PNG Coffee Industry Board
Carrad B (1982) Economic aspects of smallholder practices: mixed cropping of food and coffee.In: Bourke R M and Kesavan, V (ed). Proceedings of the Second Papua New Guinea Food Crops Conference, pp. 294–302. Port Moresby/Papua New Guinea. Department of Primary Industry
Gallasch H (1976) Integration of cash and food cropping in the lowlands of Papua New Guinea.In: Willson K and Bourke R M (ed). (2) pp 101–115
Hayfield S (1982) The coffee farming systems research and the smallholders crop surveys.In: Bourke R M and Kesavan V (ed) (4) pp 289–293
Kwapena N (1983) Tropical rainforest and plantation forestry in Papua New Guinea. Intern Symp Future of Tropical Rainforests in SE Asia. Sept 1983. IUCN/Forest Res Inst, Kepong, Malaysia
Thiagalingam K (1983) Role of casuarina in agroforestry.In: Midgley S J Turbull J W and Johnston R D (ed). Casuarina Ecology Management and Utilization, pp. 175–179 Melbourne/CSIRO
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bourke, R.M. Food, coffee and casuarina: an agroforestry system from the Papua New Guinea highlands. Agroforest Syst 2, 273–279 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00147038
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00147038