Agmark backing farmers

By PETER ESILA
All-time-high cocoa prices have yielded a bonus for farmers of the crop in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (ARoB).
New Guinea Islands Produce (NGIP) Agmark Limited Group of Companies last week made the highest payout of more than K1 million to ARoB cocoa farmers in a single day.
Managing director Steven Nightingale said the report was from its Kokopau buying point.
He said at a time when the economy was down, “farmers are the true bases of our economy”.
Agmark has 15 buying locations in PNG.
“Agriculture is the most honest job in the world; you only get out what you are willing to put in. There is no substitution for hard work. That is my personal philosophy, and I firmly believe in it,” Nightingale said.
“Effort is directly proportional to reward. Minimal effort yields minimal reward, while substantial effort yields substantial reward.”
Nightingale said infrastructure and supply line costs needed to be addressed.
“The poor condition of roads in rural areas significantly increases transportation costs for farmers.
“Vehicles are prone to increased wear-and-tear due to deteriorating road conditions, leading to higher maintenance and replacement costs.
“These infrastructure challenges create bottlenecks in supply lines and can delay the delivery of cocoa, potentially impacting the freshness and quality of the produce.”
He said financial liquidity for farmers was important.
“In remote regions, cash is a fundamental necessity for transactions, as farmers rely on it for purchasing goods and paying for services.
“The scarcity of banking facilities in remote areas poses a significant issue, making it difficult for farmers to access their funds promptly.
“A lack of financial infrastructure also hinders the ability of farmers to invest back into their farming practices or expand their operations.”
Nightingale said farmers needed to embrace “every pod, every tree, every week”.
“Cocoa flush season has begun in PNG,” he said.
“The current prices for a bag of cocoa ranges between K1,000 and K2,000 across PNG and Arob.
“We have thousands of cocoa suppliers across PNG and Arob. We support them through various programmes aimed at improving their yields and the quality of their produce. This is done through our cocoa extension programmes for farmers all over Arob and PNG at no cost to the growers. This is part of our commitment to the farmers and the industry and has been for well over 20 years.
“We encourage all farmers to continue caring for their crops diligently, adhering to proper methods of fermentation, and drying processes. It’s essential not to rush these stages to ensure the quality of cocoa.”