Children among farmers selling cocoa beans at new price

Business

CHILDREN were among cocoa farmers from Wora village in Maprik, East Sepik who sold their wet cocoa beans at the new price of K3 per kilogramme at the Wora cocoa nursery.
This followed the launching of the price support for cocoa by Prime Minister James Marape last Friday.
Farmers were able to sell their wet beans to Cocoa board representatives who started an awareness programme in Maprik.
The awareness programme would ensure farmers were informed of the best ways to farm quality wet beans to ensure sustainability of the farm produce.
Farmer Arista Geson said children in Maprik were being trained at a very young age to pick cocoa beans and earn an income.
“It is a way of life that has been passed down for many generations,” she said.
“Children will grow up to tend these lands and it is vital that they are equipped with the skills at a young age. Geson said that with the new price, more young people would be drawn into farming cocoa.
Minister for Agriculture and Livestock John Simon said he had always elaborated on the importance of teaching children about agriculture.
“Empowering the younger generation in agriculture will ensure the sustainability in the sector,” he said.
He said the district started various programmes including an agriculture-based school fee loan with the National Development Bank when children were encouraged to farm cocoa to pay their school fees.

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