Australia conducts research into cocoa

By ZACHERY PER
THE Australian government-funded Australian Centre for International Agriculture Projects (ACIAR) is conducting a research into cocoa growing in the remote Karamui area of Chimbu.
Its team, led by ACIAR project country manager Trevor Clark and project developer Philip Keane, flew into Goroka yesterday and then to Karamui to carry out a  study to develop a new breed more suited to Karamui climate and conditions. The new variety is expected to be  of improved quality.
Chimbu administrator Joe Kunda caught up with the team in Goroka to give an assurance his government had always supported cocoa in the province and would continue to do so.
He welcomed the ACIAR team and senior officers from Cocoa Copra Institute (CCI).
“Our cocoa must have secured markets and be exposed to outside markets. Having to cultivate cocoa in Karamui, we need to pay for freight charges to fly cocoa into the markets,” he said.
“The provincial government is serious about sustaining cocoa production in Karamui and will continue to provide freight subsidy.”
Salt-Nomane-Karamui District chief executive officer Limbiya Tiagoba said local MP Mogerema Wei  supported  cocoa production with K150,000  and had another commitment of K150,000 pending.