Cocoa groups receive K106,000 payout

By JIMMY KALEBE
FOLLOWING the issuance of a cocoa exporting licence to the Markham Organic Cocoa and Coffee Producers (MOCCP) last November, 33 fermentry groups received a payout of K106,000 on Saturday.
The groups under MOCCP exported 14 metric tonnes of dried cocoa bean bags last November to Europe.
Former Markham MP and MOCCP director Paul Isikiel said despite the many challenges faced by farmers in the Umi-Atzera local level government and Markham, in Morobe, the payout marked the eagerness farmers had to make a change in their living through cocoa. Isikiel said there was still more to be done with assistance from PNG Cocoa Board and stakeholders in the province to ensure local cocoa met export level criteria.
“We are now at the level of exporting directly to international markets dried cocoa bean bags and that is where quantity and quality come in so the farmers need assistance in these two areas,” he said.
PNG Cocoa Board (PNGCB) chief executive officer Boto Gaupu said Morobe generated 4,000 tonnes of cocoa annually and Markham was the leading cocoa-producing district.
Gaupu told the farmers at Siriwarang village, Umi-Atzera LLG, that engaging in direct exporting would ensure maximum benefits.
He said cocoa production in Morobe had increased over the last five years from 1,000 metric tonnes to the current 4,000 and will be increased to 10,000 over the next five years.
He estimated that in Markham alone more than K12 million had been generated due to cocoa production from the more than 2,000 metric tonnes of cocoa produced annually.
“You will now get export revenue direct from the international markets and this money has to be used properly to change your living standards in the village,” he said.
Gaupu challenged farmers to open up accounts with banks so that transactions from the proceeds of export could be safely done and that savings were made for future benefit.
He called on the Markham development authority to provide office space for a cocoa extension officer at Mutzing station to work with farmers in the district.
Former Markham chief officer and provincial cocoa board official John Orebut told the farmers to use the money to improve their living standard.
He said at the provincial level, they were working to develop a fertiliser to help farmers in cocoa, coffee and other cash crop production and yields.