Cocoa farmers facing issues with logistics

COCOA farmers in Morobe are having challenges with logistics and access to market for production in the province, a local farmer says.
Lower Watut cocoa farmer David Yam said cooperative societies involved in the primary industry had logistical problems in transporting dried cocoa beans to the market in Lae.
Yam said it cost them K70 for a bag of cocoa beans apart from the cost of transporting it to Lae.
“We take our cocoa bags by boat, paying K50 for each bag,” he said.
From Markham River bank to 40-Mile is K10 and another K10 for each bag from 40-Mile to Lae.
“There’s no road access and it’s risky transporting the cocoa by dugout canoes.
Yam said cocoa production for many farmers in the province was not an easy process.