Public Private Partnerships
New Britain Palm Oil Ltd (NBPOL)
Our Perspective…
Thomas BetitisDami Oil Palm Research Station
NBPOL Group• NBPOL-Dynamic and expanding
agribusiness• Encompasses NBPOL, RAIL, GPPOL• Research Stations at Dami and Ramu• 8* mills, 2* refineries, 1 sugar mill• Total area approx-50,000 ha• Oil palm (OP) most economical crop
in PNG since 2004• Committed to sustainable palm oil
production
Our Core Business..
• Growing of oil palm• Transport and Milling fruit• Export Crude Palm oil • Export Refine Palm oil • Breeding and Seed Sales
Significant aspects of Oil Palm in future
• Production areas to double• Strong commitment to
sustainability• New oil palm developments to start• Investors keeness to develop OP• Commodity prices to remain high
and stable
(based on PNGOPRA multi stakeholder consultations, 2008)
Main Issues in OP industry • Production issues• Lack of skill HR• Social stability • Government policy• Rural livelihoods• Environmental issues• Land issues• Infrastructures in place• Commodity prices
Issues affecting OP development in PNG
• Shortage of skilled labour and experience management staff
• Over population in Oil Palm development areas
• Sustainability (NBPOL)
Starting point- R & D
• Research must spear head Development for profitability
• Management expertise required• Sustainable Best management
practice required• Focus on Continuous improvement
R & D - Dami OPRS
• Private Research Station owned by NBPOL
• Established in 1968• Provide superior planting material
for NBPOL and for seed production• Since 2000 expanded to encompass
-Biotechnology-Agronomy-Precision Agriculture-Environment sustainability
Role of R & D - NBPOL
• Provide high yielding genetic material for specific growing conditions
• Site specific management based on sound agronomic advise
• Long term trials to improve efficiency
• Continuous improvement through focused research
• Contribute to Company Profitability
30:30 Charter Bench Mark
• Higher yield and reduce production costs
• 30 tons FFB and palm products/ton & oil extraction of 30% (CPO/PKO)
• Efforts from R&D, Mills/transport/plantation required to achieve 30:30
Dami ResearchTowards the 30:30
Project• Department • Trial descriptionSeed Production / Plantations
Seed Production
Provide pollen to Plantations for assisted pollination
Pollination and production of elite material.
Breeding
Re-establish 742.207 as pisifera source with the use of CD free seed palmBreeding
Elite progenies screening for cloning & establish for new seed garden
Breeding / Plantations Bunch analysis to assist plantations assess best harvesting standard
Breeding Assisted pollination trial
Breeding / Agronomy / Seed Nursery Screening
Breeding / Agronomy / Plantations / Smallholders
Bunch analysis to assist Agronomy assess best harvesting standard
Agronomy Elite progenies + BMP
Agronomy P experiment on paired MUs
Agronomy Immature Fertiliser Regime
Agronomy / Plantations OMP (best and worse fields) provide research and plantation with this data
Bio Tech Production of Tenera Clones
Biotech / Breeding Nursery Screening-clones
Yield t/ha/yr
Yield (t/ha)
18.0
20.0
22.0
24.0
26.0
28.0
30.0
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Yield (t/ha)
Current Research Staffing- Dami
Category National Expatriate
Senior Scientists 2 3
Scientists 5 0
Research Assistants (Graduates) 10 0
Total 17 3
Department Scientists
Breeding 2 1*
Biotechnology 0 1
Agronomy 2 1**
Precision Agriculture 1 0
Seed Production 2 1*
Total 7 3
Trial areas Area (ha) ratio
Plant Breeding 1500 1:750 ha
Agronomy 1650 1: 800 ha
Graduate Standards
• Standard of agriculture graduates dropped in terms of Education, Attitude, and Application
• Agriculture sustainability important• Agriculture sector must be prepared
Key professions (NBPOL)
• Agriculture sciences• General sciences• Engineering • Environment sustainability• Molecular biology
Supporting professions
• Health• Legal• Constructions• Administrative• Financial• Transport/workshop• Social scientists
What kind of graduates?• Committed• Reliable• Career minded• Hardworking• Adequate Analytical skills• Academically sound &
practical
What kind of graduates..• Innovative • Internet shy (no dependence)• Change in attitude from student• Adapt to changing conditions
What we offer
• Attractive salary package• Merit based promotions• Attractive bonus based on
performances and company profitability
• Free housing• Generous Leave packages• Full medical cover and
education assistance• Training and Career
development
Training assistance
• Places for Industrial training to agriculture students
• Scholarships to best performing students
• Employment to graduates based on requirements
Placement and sponsorship over 3 years
Placements• 2007 = 21• 2008 = 22• 2009= 30
Sponsored• 2007 = 11• 2008 = 16• 2009 = 13
Formal training funded by NBPOL (in house)
Post graduates• 2008 = 7 • 2009 = 2
Certificates• 2008 = 3*• 2009 = 17
Summary-Building capacity
• Capacity building in Universities is essential
• Increase skill human resources for future
• Agriculture sustainability important• Competent trained
scientist/researchers to meet future challenges
• Need support from all stakeholders
Partnership
• NBPOL and Vudal• NBPOL and Unitech• Council representation
Thank you on behalf of Thank you on behalf of NBPOLNBPOL
Areas needing strengthening
• Experiment designs• Report writing• Statistical analyses• Data interpretation
Current yield trends