Non-Commercial Poultry Production in Papua New Guinea

Chickens have been in Papua New Guinea since the time of the Austronesian settlements some 2000-3000 years ago. In historical times, new types of poultry were introduced. Chicken keeping slowly spread but only recently into the highlands. From the late 1960s through the 1980s, serious attempts were made to improve village poultry production through the distribution of dualpurpose chickens and Muscovy ducks, together with suggestions on improved husbandry. No real attempt was made to improve the husbandry of native village chickens. Most of this activity had little obvious impact resulting in a hiatus in activities throughout the 1990s. Concern for food security and protein supply for village households, particularly in remote areas with few economic opportunities, has led to a renewed interest in non-commercial poultry production. A workshop convened by the National Agricultural Research Institute in August 1999, identified serious gaps in knowledge and suggested some possibilities for action.