R. Michael Bourke

Tracy Harwood

Agriculture dominates the rural economy of Papua New Guinea (PNG). More than five million rural dwellers (80% of the population) earn a living from subsistence agriculture and selling crops in domestic and international markets. Many aspects of agriculture in PNG are described in this data-rich book. Topics include agricultural environments in which crops are grown; production of food crops, cash crops and animals; land use; soils; demography; migration; the macro-economic environment; gender issues; governance of agricultural institutions; and transport. The history of agriculture over the 50 000 years that PNG has been occupied by humans is summarised. Much of the information presented is not readily available within PNG. The book contains results of many new analyses, including a food budget for the entire nation. The text is supported by 165 tables and 215 maps and figures.

Food and Agriculture in Papua New Guinea

Paula Brown

Chris Ballard

"The goals, stated or implicit, included: a review of the status of knowledge about sweet potato in Oceania, covering advances in agronomic, botanical, archaelogical and ethnographic understanding; a regional overview, integrating advances in both Polynesia and Melanesia; an assessment of the significance of sweet potato in the region, relative to other crops, other introductions or innovations; and the identification of areas for future research. This volume is not intended as a comprehensive statement on the topic - one obvious deficiency in our coverage is the limited discussion of recent genetic work - but it should provide a useful statement of developments since 1974 in our understanding of sweet potato's history in Oceania and serve as a spur to further, more focused research."--P. v.

Tracy Harwood

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