Smallholder oil palms constitutes close of 50 % of total area planted to oil palm in Papua New Guinea but accounts for only a third of the total production. Obviously, there is a major yield gap if filled even to a limited degree can have an enormous impact on the overall production and the economics of the industry. The smallholder production system is very different in character to that of the plantations. The problems and production constraints are even much more complicated. PNGOPRA needs to address the specific problems related to low productivity. Therefore, the SSR section was formed in 2014 to carry out applied agronomy and socioeconomic research and extension to assist alleviate smallholder low productivity.
The section’s projects and activities centered around developing and providing appropriate extension interventions that will improve smallholder production, productivity and strengthen the economic, environmental, and social well-being of oil palm smallholder households.