District authorities encouraged to take on board cocoa projects

THE Cocoa Board of PNG is encouraging district authorities to start cocoa projects for their people.
Board chief executive Boto Gaupu said cocoa would support the wellbeing of rural people and urged districts to set up nurseries, distribute seeds and help the people plant cocoa.
The board is assisting the Finschhafen District Development Authority start cocoa projects in its rural areas.
The district is also working with the Works department and the Defence Force Engineer Battalion to build roads in the district.
Gaupu said without roads, “cocoa and fresh produce cannot reach the market”.
He board has delivered the first 20,000 seedlings and posted an officer to the district.
“In a year, total seedlings supply will be 60,000. But if we roll it out twice a year, it will be 120,000 seedlings. That is how serious and determined we are pursuing the cocoa rollout project,” Gaupu said.
Markham and Tewae-Siassi in Morobe are to follow Finschhafen.
“Morobe is a sleeping giant,” Gaupu said.
Finschhafen district authority chief executive Glen Kisu said they had also conducted feasibility studies in the past two years in a hydropower project in Burum, upgrading the Gagidu airstrip into an airport and providing jetties for fishery activities.
“We are beginning with roads and cocoa,” Kisu said.
Meanwhile, Engineering Battalion Commander Lt-Col Bruno Malau said they would work with the Works department on the roads.
Works officer Ezra Kelly said eight road-building machineries were already in Finschhafen.