Cocoa

This is in the case of initiatives being undertaken to develop idle and unused State land for agriculture development purposes.

The partnership between the Department of Agriculture and Livestock and the Cocoa Board, supported by key agencies such as the Department of Lands and Physical Planning and other stakeholders in utilizing undeveloped land in Kokopo, East New Britain Province, for cocoa development is one good example.

A lot of cocoa and copra have been rejected despite the production getting higher throughout the region from North to South.

A cocoa farmer from the west coast of Bougainville Patrick Miaro said his area makes quality Cocoa because they follow all procedures and make no mistake about it, and they listen carefully to awareness by extension officers.

“It’s about time we put Bougainville back on the world map and to do that we must  deliver good results in the end of the day from our products like cocoa,” Miaro said.

Agricultural consultant David Anderson has conducted an Australian-Aid funded “diagnosis” of Bougainville’s cocoa industry, together with the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) Department of Primary Industries, which seeks to boost output and lift quality at every stage of production.

He’s been in Bougainville talking to hundreds of cocoa industry stakeholders - from farmers, to nurserymen, fermenters, buyers, exporters and ABG ministers.

Provided there is government intervention in funding the provincial government’s plan to bring cocoa to the next level, Chimbu Province has the potential to become a major player in the nation’s cocoa industry.

The Provincial Works Unit has spent sleepless nights cutting through mountainous jungles in its attempt to link up this fertile valley by road to the outside world.

Albert Denguo is an industrious man who together with his wife are hard working when it comes to tilling the land. This is obvious when visitors to their area at the Enekuai relocation site admire plants the couple grow around their house and nearby gardens.

The Enekuai relocation site is one of two sites which landowners of the Ramu NiCo cobalt/mine were relocated to after mining development took place on the plateau.

Close to 70 cocoa farmers under the Agmark Farmer Discussion group in East New Britain took to two weeks' of training - half of them women. 

PPAP project manager Martin Powell said extra cash available could lead to social issues including a rise in the numbers of people with HIV AIDS.

Pictured are some of the cocoa farmers after the event.