Rice Cultivation In Papua

Scheme Abandoned

According to the latest annual report for Papua, the Government hoped to make the Territory self-supporting as regards rice, and large areas were planted under the Native Plantations scheme by natives in the Gulf Division under Government guidance.

The Government also planted rice on a small scale in the Central Division.

An officer was sent to India to study methods of treatment and Indian in structors were obtained. A fully equipped rice-milling plant was erected.

However, after years of effort the scheme has been abandoned, owing to irregularities of climate destroying the crop year after year.