ENB leads cocoa trade

By ELIZABETH VUVU
EAST New Britain continues to lead in cocoa production despite a disease that is causing some impact on its crops, the Cocoa Board of Papua New Guinea reported.
The board said national production during the period 2005-2006 reached 44,678 tonnes, with ENB accounting for 50.3% of the total output for the period.
The board noted the figure of 44,678mt for the period 2005-06 was 0.2% or 103mt lower than the 2004-05 figure of 44,781mt.
In a market report, the board said the cocoa pod borer (CPB) had affected some of the ENB’s plantations but it was immediately neutralised by quarantine efforts carried out by the Government.
But the board attributed the slightly lower output during the period 2005-2006 to unfavourable weather.
ENB was followed by Bougainville 21.5%, East Sepik 9.5%, Madang 8.7%, New Ireland 3.4%, Morobe 2.3%, Sandaun 2.1%, West New Britain 2.0% and Oro 0.2%.
The board said cocoa exports for the period in review reached 51,074mt, up 6.8% or 3,261 tonnes, from 47,813mt during 2004-05.
The report said export earnings for during the period 2005-06 reached K231 million, up 4% from K222 million in 2004-05.
Production last year reached 40,000mt, down 2,580 tonnes or 6% from the same period in 2005.
The drop was being attributed to “general inactivity and unfavourable weather”.

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