Copra makes a comeback in Wewak

By GYNNIE KERO
COPRA production in the Wewak district is being revived and the province is now qualified to have its own mill.
Francis Warren, manager of the Wewak Commodity Ltd,  said local farmers’ determination in copra production had attracted interest from many others on the islands and West Coast areas.
Coconut was brought into the province by the late Sir Peter Simogun after serving as a plantation worker during the colonial days.
But when the copra marketing board left the province 20 years ago, most people ventured away from the copra business.
Warren said copra production was one way to improve and boost the provincial economy.
Coconut, unlike other tree crops, is non-seasonal and does not require intensive labour to look after it.
He needs the help of the national government to have a mill for downstream processing in the province.
The district has over 10 million coconut stands and can supply 5,000 bags a week. All by-products were to be directly exported.
The Wewak joint district planning and budget priorities committee supported the company and local farmers by giving K100,000 for the rehabilitation of 10 copra dryers.
Wewak MP Dr Moses Manwau said he was raised and educated from money earned from selling copra and saw coconut as the backbone of the economy.