WHITE copra production is making its mark in the Kokopo district of East New Britain.
This emanates from the close working relationship between Kokonas Indastri Koporesen (KIK) and Kokopo District Development Authority.
The beginning of 2021 saw the district alone export over 50 tonnes of white copra to buyers in Dubai, Middle East.
This has seen around K260, 000 go directly into the pockets of farmers.
KIK is currently the main buyer while the Kokopo DDA and Department of Agriculture and Livestock have thrown in their support with price subsidy.
Last week, Kokopo district reinforced its support for the white copra production with K300, 000 price support to ensure farmers are making good money from their products and importantly to maintain the selling price of K4 per kilo.
The presentation occasion at Eden Farm Sanctuary at Tobera was attended by Kokopo district through Bitapaka LLG President and Deputy Governor Cosmas Bauk, Kokopo district CEO John Talele and Raluana LLG President Tiolam Wawaga who presented the cheque to the KIK NGI Regional Manager Ephraim Tade.
This is the second funding to be made through price support to KIK for their farmers. An initial first price support funding of K30, 000 was witnessed in December last year during the launch of the DAL Copra Price Support in Kokopo.
With the demand for quality products on the overseas market, Kokopo DDA also presented another cheque of K100, 000 to Rabweld for the construction of an additional 55 klin pipe kits to be given to farmers in Kokopo.
New Guinea Islands Regional KIK Manager Ephriam Tade said Kokopo District is expected to export another 1, 000 tonnes of white copra soon to overseas market.
He said white copra will now be known as edible white copra because the people of Dubai are eating the white copra they are buying from ENB.
Most of this copra is coming from Bitapaka and Kokopo/Vunamami LLGs.
