Call for Govt to revive cocoa extension service

THE Government has been urged to revive and take cocoa extension services to farmers in rural areas.
Farmers from Wora in Maprik Stanis Yaligin, Nick Maim and David Tukute raised their concern during a visit by officials from the Cocoa board to the area last week.
They acknowledged the Government for the price support programme in agriculture, particularly with cocoa.
The new buying price for cocoa has changed from K2.50 per kg to K3.
The farmers said they needed training on the types of tools to use and fertilisers.
Cocoa board extension programme manager Anton Varvaliu said there were still challenges on how to reach out to farmers. “Harvesting should be carried out fortnightly or weekly,” Varvaliu said.
“Beans from unripe pods do not ferment properly and give a much lower yield of dry beans than fully ripe pods.
“Only ripe pods should be harvested and cocoa hooks should be used to take the ripe pods off trees, so as not to damage the tree.
“Pods should be broken using wooden sticks.
“Avoid using knifes as they could damage the beans.
“Beans must be removed out of the pods by hand.”
Varvalie said the price support by the Government was good because the price of the wet bean would be no different from the dry beans.