Gardening activity, food supply and nutritional status in the southern highlands of Papua New Guinea

Robert Crittenden Department of Geography and Planning, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, 2351, Australia

Christopher N. Floyd Agricultural Field Trials, Studies, Extension and Monitoring Unit (AFTSEMU), P.O. Box 221, Mendi, Papua New Guinea, Southern Highlands Province; Institute of Medical Research, P.O. Box 60, Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea

Roderick D. B. Lefroy Agricultural Field Trials, Studies, Extension and Monitoring Unit (AFTSEMU), P.O. Box 221, Mendi, Papua New Guinea, Southern Highlands Province; Institute of Medical Research, P.O. Box 60, Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea

Merle A. Anders Agricultural Field Trials, Studies, Extension and Monitoring Unit (AFTSEMU), P.O. Box 221, Mendi, Papua New Guinea, Southern Highlands Province; Institute of Medical Research, P.O. Box 60, Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea

Euclid J. D'Souza Agricultural Field Trials, Studies, Extension and Monitoring Unit (AFTSEMU), P.O. Box 221, Mendi, Papua New Guinea, Southern Highlands Province; Institute of Medical Research, P.O. Box 60, Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea

Deborah Lehman Agricultural Field Trials, Studies, Extension and Monitoring Unit (AFTSEMU), P.O. Box 221, Mendi, Papua New Guinea, Southern Highlands Province; Institute of Medical Research, P.O. Box 60, Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea

A survey was conducted in three areas of the Southern Highlands to examine seasonal patterns in gardening activity and body weights and their inter‐relationship.

The pattern of gardening activity during the two years of the survey (1981–83) was typically one of constant activity, with minor and regular fluctuations in response to normal social and climatic occurrences. However, an abnormally dry period during the survey disrupted this pattern and, when compounded by other factors, appeared to have important effects on food supply in subsequent years.

Whilst anthropometric results showed important differences between study areas in anthropometric status, neither significant patterns in body weight changes nor a relationship with gardening activity were detected. These results were not, however, regarded as conclusive due to the inadequacy of the methods used.

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