National seed and planting materials (SPM) programme manager for the Fresh Produce Development Agency, Alex Agiwa, discussed the need for urgent enhancement of citrus varieties. He emphasized the potential for commercialization and downstream processing, given the current citrus tree crop diversity in Papua New Guinea. However, this potential hinges on raising quality to international market standards.
Agiwa stated that "our current citrus varieties are not that competitive and acceptable, therefore they cannot end up in the formal markets in Papua New Guinea and abroad." He pointed out the necessity for importing bud wood, scions, and rootstocks from improved overseas sources for trials against local varieties.
Establishing whether to retain local citrus varieties or replace them with imported ones requires comparative research trials, according to Agiwa. "Commercialization and downstream processing can only happen after the selection of the best traits of the citrus varieties, which results in the quality production of citrus fruits acceptable and competitive, both locally and abroad," he mentioned.
Source: The National
