Council plans cash crop support

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Thursday February 13th, 2014

 By ADAM MERA

The New Ireland Province Executive Council has endorsed a policy to support its ailing cash crop industries.

The Commodity Stabilisation Fund will be used to rejuvenate the copra and cocoa industry which has been the life line of the province for many years.

Governor Sir Julius Chan said prices for cash crops had been falling and  people had turned their backs on the industry, leaving cash crops neglected. 

He said that was affecting lives as the majority of the people in the province depended on crops for their livelihoods.

“We need to support the smallholders of New Ireland during this time when prices are down,” Sir Julius said.

“They need to be able to make a reasonable profit, so they will take care of their crops and can realise even greater profits once the price recovers.”

Sir Julius praised his cabinet for passing this very important policy initiative, saying “this will bring the people back to work the plantations and put more money into their pockets”. 

He said before independence, New Ireland was producing over 24,000 tonnes of copra and was the second biggest producer in the country.

“But today we are barely producing around 2,000 tonnes.” 

Sir Julius said he had directed the provincial administration to work out a mechanism for full implementation before June. The approved new price will be approximately K100 per bag of dried copra and K600 per bag of dried cocoa.