William Cottrell-Dormer (1946-1961) and Agricultural Development in the Territory of Papua New Guinea

Abstract

William Cottrell-Dormer became the first Director of the newly formed Department of
Agriculture Stock and Fisheries (DASF) after World War II. After completing his tertiary studies, Cottrell-Dormer became an agricultural research officer with coconut companies in the British Solomon Islands. During the War, he served as the Director of Agriculture in Tonga, where he was responsible for the introduction of the modern marketing of copra. Cottrell-Dormer arrived in Port Moresby in 1946 where he envisaged and
created a Department of Agriculture for the newly amalgamated Territories of Papua
and New Guinea.

In line with Australian policies of the time, he
attempted not only to keep the people on the land but with the aid of his "grassroots"
organisations, attempted to include them in all areas of decision making when
implementing changes with in the community. By adopting a community development
approach to agricultural change, Cottrell-Dormer created opportunities for Indigenous
farmers to participate in a wider, even global trade network. The government’s overall
goals were for modernisation, expansion and diversification into export crops, and for
new food crops to improve the standards of living and nutrition. Cottrell-Dormer’s vision
for an agricultural extension program in Papua New Guinea continues today in the now
Independent country.