Cocoa’s potential highlighted

COCOA can generate K1 million annually to Morobe, according to PNG Cocoa Board Mamose coordinator Anton Ningi.
There are new nurseries built and cocoa plantations are springing up in rural areas.
“People in Waria Valley have, since 2014, started going into cocoa production. Today, more than 81,000 trees have been planted while new nurseries and plantations are being established also,” Ningi said. The same applies for Kabwum, Tewai Siassi and Markham, the major cocoa producing areas in Morobe.
“Waria Valley, Sialum in Tewai- Siassi and parts of Kabwum are increasing their production and have recently produced cocoa ready for sale,” he said.
“But these areas are only accessible by air.”
Ningi said this was the only problem hindering the production capacities of farmers in isolated areas. In 2016, the PNG Cocoa Board provided K35,000 to subsidise freight costs.
“However, with the production this year expected to increase from the rural areas only accessible by air, this could even be more on the freight costs,” he said.
Morobe Governor Ginson Saonu said income from cocoa and coffee could boost the province’s economy.
The 2020 Budget allocated K300,000 towards freight costs.
Since 2014, he estimated that the PNG Cocoa Board had spent more than K600,000 for costs in developing the project.