Company gets license to buy cocoa

THE sky is the limit as far as cocoa production in South Bougainville is concerned, says MP Timothy Masiu.
He was in Buin last week during the handing over of an export licence by Agriculture and Livestock Minister John Simon and PNG Cocoa Board CEO Boto Gaupu to South Bougainville development authority-owned company Busiba.
Masiu said to get the ball rolling in cocoa production, K100 would be added to the normal price of K400 per bag.
“The sky is the limit, my people,” he said.
“We will move, we will progress.
“I am happy that your company (Busiba) has been established and urge you to sell your cocoa to them.
“Sell your cocoa to Busiba.
“I have already given instructions to Busiba that if they are buying a bag of cocoa for K400, it must buy it for K500.
“This is your bonus for your sweat and hard work.
“So you must go back and work hard in your cocoa garden.”
Masiu said South Bougainville would work with the Cocoa Board in developing the industry there.
“We must work hard because this is the only time that we have had such an opportunity,” he said.
“If we don’t work properly, we will never get there.”
He said the people had been “slaves” for too long.
“Now is the time to come out of this bondage,” he said.
“Now is the time to come out of the slavery we have been under, whereby we worked hard, and sold our cocoa to other people.”