Coffee, cocoa from smallholders going overseas: Official

By PETER ESILA
COFFEE and cocoa produced by smallholders are already reaching the international market, says Agriculture and Livestock Department (DAL) acting secretary Dr Nelson Simbiken.
He said during the launching of the K140 million PNG Agriculture Commercialisation and Diversification (PACD) project in Port Moresby that coffee and cocoa were available in international markets because of their high quality.
“Smallholders produce 95 per cent of the coffee produced in PNG, and the industry has seen a general increase in the value of coffee exports over the past decade,” he said.
“PNG coffee production average 995,000 bags (59,700 tonnes) annual over the past decade, although this can be heavily affected by diseases, climate and even election cycles.”
Simbiken said the annual cocoa production had increased to more than 40,000 metric tonnes after the introduction of the cocoa pod borer (CPB)-tolerant seedlings, and improved CPB management training.
“With good management practices such as the integrated pest management systems, the production is now picking up in cocoa-growing provinces,” he said.
Simbiken thanked the World Bank for the support through cooperation established in the
past, and the relationship through the productive partnerships in agriculture projects and the PNG agriculture commercialisation and diversification project.