Cocoa farmer ventures into roadside market for income

By SAMANTHA KATI
WHEN cocoa pod borer affected cocoa production — the main source of income for people in Dreikikier, East Sepik — a father of four had to venture into roadside marketing to provide for his family.
Justin Akapuk, 56, from Penengrunam in Dreikikier, said when seeing his cocoa trees not producing cocoa well, he knew he needed to look for other ways to support his family.
“In 2013, I started selling my garden produce along the Sepik Highway and sometimes to Maprik’s main market,” he said.
Akapuk said the road was the main challenge for him to bring his produce to market but that did not stop him to continue his sales.
“I usually earn K50 to K100 from my sales and I spend half on household items, transport fares and a little bit to my savings,” he said.
In 2021, using his savings, Akapuk started buying store goods like salt, sugar and other items, and did his sales along Moran Market.
“I go to Maprik to buy my goods to sell and it takes about a month for them to finish and I make about K500 to K600 profit in a month. My roadside sales have supported my family and me greatly, it helps me pay my children’s school fees, customary obligations and puts money in my pocket,” he said. He said such markets keep them going and they needed good roads and permanent buildings with good lighting to continue selling.
“The current state of the road is making it difficult for us to travel into Maprik to buy our goods,” he said.