Credit: Skybury Farms

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A Mareeba nursery manager has received a major international propagation award for delivering papaya fruit with improved sweetness, consistent quality and constant supply.

Skybury Farms’ Bongani Ndawana took out the Rod Tallis Youth Award at the International Plant Propagator’s Society’s annual conference earlier this month for his research into tissue cultured papaya.

Born and raised in Zimbabwe, where he attained a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in horticulture, Bongani joined Skybury just over five years ago and became an Australian citizen last year.

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He’s thrived under the mentorship of Managing Director Ian MacLaughlin, Farm Manager Mark MacLaughlin and research leader Dr Puthiyaparambil Josekutty.

Mr MacLaughlin said Bongani’s research has allowed Skybury to efficiently acclimatise tissue cultured papaya, enabling it to become the first papaya farm in Australia to grow 100 per cent tissue cultured fruit for a secure and ongoing supply of elite plant material.

“This development - using these disease-free papaya plantlets - transformed our offering with an average gain of 25% productivity compared to the previous seedling-based production,” Mr MacLaughlin said.

“Fortunately for us, Bongani has responsibility for our overall nursery operations, ensuring plant production for both papaya and coffee is maintained to drive overall increases and standards.”

Managing Director Ian MacLaughlin and Nursery Manager Bongani Ndawana. Credit: Skybury Farms

Skybury’s papaya is now the market leader with around 60 per cent of share due to its ability to provide high quality fruit at large volumes, reliably and consistently.

Supermarkets in their supply chain include Aldi, Coles and Woolworths.

It’s also worth mentioning that Bongani was one of the stars of Skybury’s Jerusalema Challenge last year.

Credit: Skybury Farms

The dance challenge, to South African song Jerusalema, went global as a way to pass pandemic lockdown time.

Skybury’s video showcases the beauty of Far North Queensland’s prime agricultural region, as well as providing feel-good vibes.

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Main points

  • Skybury Farms Nursery Manager Bongani Ndawana has received global recognition for his research into papaya tissue culture
  • The research has allowed to farm to supply large, high quality volumes of sweeter fruit
  • Bongani is also one of the stars of Skybury's Jerusalema challenge. WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW
He was one of those people who gave far more than he received.
CR BOB MANNING
CAIRNS MAYOR