Cocoa farming

Home to 3,000 residents, this community, a mere three-hour drive from the Vanimo township, has become a beacon of hope and economic resurgence.

For years, Osima Village grappled with isolation, its inhabitants relying on traditional hunting and gardening for sustenance. Accessing markets in Vanimo and neighboring Indonesia posed significant challenges due to unreliable transportation.

Jeffery Osi, a village elder, vividly recalls the arduous waits for transport, even for urgent medical needs.

Gas Resources PNGLNG Pipeline Ltd Director for Segment 7, Wauro Oumabe, was present at the launching of the new Computer lab, E-library, Wi-Fi and FODE at the Kikori Secondary School in Gulf Province.

“I’ve been thinking tomorrow oil and gas is going to be deflated, what is next? Where will landowners go? Where will our children go and our future generation? When oil and gas is deflated at least there is an option that will sustain and fall back on. I started with a cocoa project and I’ve been driving it,” he stated.

Speaking at the ‘Second European Union – Papua New Guinea Business, Trade and Investment Conference’ on Monday 11 October, stressed on what his province was doing on cocoa production project.

Governor Bird was tasked to highlight projects that are aimed at promoting trade in the non-resource sector in the country.

He took the opportunity to share East Sepik’s cocoa production journey since the beginning of his leadership term.

He was speaking during launch of the Sepik Chicken, Grain and Cocoa Project at Yangoru Station on Wednesday in East Sepik.

Tomscoll revealed that rural farmers were the largest beneficiaries, pocketing 80 percent of the provincial income on cocoa.  

He challenged them to plant more cocoa trees to increase their income.

“Agriculture is the backbone of the country and helps (villagers) escape poverty by improving their lifestyle and putting money in their pockets.”