Corporation promotes replanting of coconut trees

Kokonas Indastri Koporesen (KIK) plans to promote coconut replanting through establishing nurseries and distributing seedlings.
It is also looking into the purchase of land and the establishment of a facility at Upulima in Abau district, Central.
General manager Alan Aku said this during a presentation on possible partnership between KIK and Central provincial government.
The coconut replanting programme started in Central in 2016.
Between 2016 and 2018, a total 18 nurseries have been established at strategic locations in the province.
A total of 56,000 coconuts seedlings have have distributed to nurseries, both in Karma district of Gulf and four districts of Central.
KIK has a budget of K16.2 million to develop coconut resource centres in East New Britain, East Sepik and Central over the next four years.
KIK plans to acquire 400 hectares in Upulima.
One hundred hectares will be for farming system demonstrations.
The other 100ha will have training facilities for business incubation, downstream processing and staff housing, and 200ha of national coconut genebank.
KIK has assisted in the establishment of two micro small-to-medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Central.
They both produce virgin coconut oil, coconut soap and coconut-based body oils marketed in PNG and Australia.
Aroma Coconut Products Cooperative, located in Maopa, was assisted to improve its processing facilities with K300,000 and supplied with processing machines valued at K100,000. Hanamoa Estates located in Lalaura has recently been assisted to build its new processing facility with K200,000.
KIK is currently working in collaboration with Green Yield of Galley Reach Holdings to rehabilitate Aroa and Hisiu plantations.