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Re-commercialisation of the PNG pyrethrum industry and improving harvested yields in Australia

Project ID:
ASEM/2006/023: Re-commercialisation of the PNG pyrethrum industry and improving harvested yields in Australia
Collaborating Countries:
Papua New Guinea
Commissioned Organisation:
Botanical Resources Australia - Agricultural Services Pty Ltd, Australia
Project Leader
Mr Brian Chung
Phone: 03 6224 4511
Fax: 03 6224 4473
Email: bchung@botanicalra.com.au
Collaborating Institutions:
  • National Agricultural Research Institute, Papua New Guinea
  • Enga Provincial Administration, Papua New Guinea
  • University of Tasmania, Australia
  • Department of National Planning and Monitoring, Papua New Guinea
Project Budget:
$801,657
Project Duration:
01/01/2007 - 31/12/2010
ACIAR Research Program Manager
Dr Caroline Lemerle
Project Overview

Pyrethrum is an in-demand insecticide extracted from the Pyrethrum daisy plant. Its benign properties make it desirable for use as an insecticide in a number of applications. Introduced to PNG in the late 1950s it formed a major highland industry employing as many as 80,000 people in the late 1980s. Local products were sold to a processing factory with marketing undertaken by the factory owners. The closure of this factory ended the local market, curtailing the industry. Botanical Resources Australia has offered to buy the PNG crop and help re-commercialise the industry. Planting materials and improved agronomic practices, along with research into the adoption of improved production and plant physiological factors will be undertaken.

Project Progress Reports
Year One

This project is progressing well with no problems and there are no expected variations to future activities. NARI and BRA/UTas/TIAR are progressing well with the agronomic studies and these studies are expected to be satisfactorily completed during this project. The results to date are very useful and it is quite likely that some of these studies will be suitable for publication in refereed scientific journals. The factory is now operating relatively efficiently and the laboratory is refurbished and equipped with the NIR and basic equipment. The NIR is working well and assays have been done on flowers collected by NARI as a part of the clone improvement study as well as commercially harvested flowers and the extracted oleoresin.
This project is having good impact on developing the capacity of the PNG partners. NARI researchers are benefiting from interaction with BRA and UTas/TIAR researchers on aspects of experimental design and conduct, data analysis and reporting. The Kagamuga extraction factory operators are gaining experience in the use of laboratory equipment and in particular, the NIR as well as the safe and effective operation of the extraction plant. The extension staff are benefiting from the study tour to BRA in Tasmania as well as exposure to BRA senior staff during the regular visits to PNG by BRA senior staff. Of particular and unforseen benefits are the experiences and growth with Janet Yando, the female extension officer appointed by EPC as a part of this project.
The project is having very good impact in generating interest by smallholders to grow pyrethrum as a useful source of cash income and the funds already injected into the local community to date has been significant. There is a good opportunity to develop the PNG pyrethrum industry to the production levels of the 1970-1980's by the end of 2010. However, there is a need for the injection of some capital funds for the purchase of a tractor as well as seed money to assist growers to expand their production levels at a faster rate. The project team is currently working with the PNG National government to obtain more support and resources for the pyrethrum industry.