An Australian Government backed partnership is helping PNG farmers, processors and exporters derive greater benefit from the trade as international demand for quality Papua New Guinean cocoa and chocolate is not stronger.
The PGK1.2 million initiative is expected to boost quality cocoa production in Central Province and strengthen the supply for local producers, like Paradise Food’s Queen Emma Chocolate (QEC), so that they can better meet demand in the lucrative Australian and New Zealand markets.
The project is being driven by QEC in cooperation with 3 Central Province enterprises: Frontier Primary Produce Ltd operating out of Kuriva, Cocoalands Development Ltd near Moreguina andAmazon Cocoa Cooperative in Abau.
Under the project, 3 dedicated extension officers will assist Central smallholder farmers, training them in advanced cocoa block management techniques, husbandry practices and processing.
Karina Makori, General Manager – Queen Emma Chocolate, with cocoa bags from the group. Picture supplied.
Their work will be supported by the establishment of nurseries to raise around 62,500 high quality PNG Cocoa Board-certified seedlings for distribution by the three enterprises.
The initiative will help QEC address the chronic challenges it has faced in reliably accessing quality cocoa, helping it cultivate a more localised and cost-effective supply of quality cocoa – cutting costs and boosting earnings for cocoa farmers, their families, and communities.
In helping strengthen the supply of quality cocoa, the project will also empower women working in the industry.
Women play a critical role in Central’s cocoa production, making up a significant proportion of smallholder cocoa farmers in the province. In addition, most of the roles in QEC – from top management through to marketing and processing – are filled by women.
The project complements other Australian Government-supported projects that are helping develop PNG’s cocoa sector, such as the installation of solar dryers in East Sepik which last year enabled the production of almost 330 tonnes of smoke-taint free cocoa beans worth an estimated K8.83 million.
Mr Giau Duruba, Director for Amazon Cocoa Cooperative, described the support provided by the partnership as life changing for farming families.
Mr Duruba said that to deliver their cocoa to buyers in Port Moresby, smallholder farmers from the remote Cloudy Bay area must first travel for seven hours by dinghy to Moreguina Station. From there they cover an additional 150 to 170 kilometers by road into Port Moresby to meet buyers.
They have to pay for the journey upfront and, without the partnership, the sale price is uncertain. But, thanks to the partnership, they will have a guaranteed buyer on standby to take their cocoa.
The project will not only boost the financial security of cocoa farming families but, by improving farming practices that reduce soil degradation and resource wastage, it will support joint PNG and Australia efforts to minimize the impact of climate change and help vulnerable communities adapt.
This is greater opportunities for central Province and my question can this program be extended to other older rural growing cocoa production areas like Pomio and baining areas of ENBP.
Thanks good initiative. Yeshuah bless.
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