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Business |
Rehab of cocoa estates urged
By JASON SOM KAUT
MOROBE province has
not realised its full potential in cocoa production due to lack
of extension services and training that would help improve crop
management.
Likewise, more partnerships among growers and funding were
needed to rehabilitate cocoa estates in Morobe.
This was the message from Cocoa and Coconut Institute (CCI) Lae
manager Peter Homu during the graduation of 31 new and current
cocoa farmers at Situm just outside Lae last week.
The group had completed an intensive one-and-a-half week cocoa
course funded by ADRA PNG with technical support from AusAID and
CCI Lae.
He urged farmers to put into use new skills and knowledge
acquired through training.
“CCI Lae has provided more than two million seeds and planting
material during the past decade.
“But Morobe can only produce about 6% of the country’s total
cocoa output although the province had a very good soil,” Mr
Homu noted.
The two main reasons highlighted by Mr Homu for the poor
performance were poor block management and a lack of
understanding of the cocoa cropping cycle.
A better understanding of the cropping culture by putting the
right input at the right time would see farmers maximise their
output.
“Lack of soil management skill is also one reason why small
holders don’t realise the maximum potential of hybrid cocoa
trees,” he said.
Smallholders in the province currently account for about 700
tonnes a year while Markham farms produce 900 tonnes yearly.
With more than two million seeds given to smallholder farmers in
the last decade, Mr Homu expected more than 2,000 tonnes in
output.
ADRA PNG's economic development officer Bonifas Durua said ADRA
was committed in bringing a change to communities by creating
partnerships to give them access to technical expertise and
training to rehabilitate and further develop cocoa.
 
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