Cocoa farmers getting new fermentaries

COCOA farmers in Morobe are getting four new fermentaries to improve the quality of their cocoa beans.
Farmer representatives from Apele, Timini, Bavaga and Gingen villages signed the agreement with officials from the Wafi-Golpu Joint Venture at its project office near Lae on Tuesday.
Farmer Tetac Mala, from Apele Village, said because they did not have a fermentry, they had to sell wet beans to Wampit village – which had a fermentry – about three kilometres away.
“This was hard work for little income. Now with the fermentry we will plant and harvest more cocoa. Each farmer will earn a little bit more,” Mala said.
The WGJV has been working with PNG Cocoa Board, Morobe provincial government, the Lower Watut Farmers Cooperative, Huon Gulf and Bulolo districts since 2010 to increase the local participation in the production of cocoa and other crops.
Head of External Relations David Wissink said cocoa was the way forward.
“The Wafi-Golpu project is still in its advanced exploration stage and so we want to see farmers improve their cocoa farming because cocoa will put money into their pockets for many years,” Wissink said.
“Since we began the programme, we’ve assisted over 1000 cocoa-producing families. We would like to see more people involved with planting and farming cocoa, and see more economic development through agri-business in the project area.”