District to double cocoa production

 AGRICULTURE Minister Tommy Tomscoll is confident that the Yangoru-Saussia district in East Sepik will double its cocoa production from the current 2,660 tonnes in the next four years.

Speaking at the launch of the Wesco Cocoa Estate at Miamboru village in Yangoru on Monday, Tomscoll said Yangoru-Saussia received K21 million in export revenue but with the introduction of the new cocoa pod borer resistant planting material, the district would beat Maprik to become the leading producer in East Sepik and the country.

Wesco Cocoa, which has allocated 1,000 hectares of land, will take charge of the cocoa project and a nursery to supply five million seedlings to other Yangoru-Saussia villages while they keep a million in their plantation.

Tomscoll said Yangoru-Saussia would allocate K3 million while the government, through PNG Cocoa Board, would put in the other K3 million in the next three years to facilitate one of the country’s biggest cocoa projects.

Yangoru-Saussia MP and Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Richard Maru acknowledged community leader Greg Maison for taking the initiative to mobilise his people to partner the government in establishing the first cocoa plantation in East Sepik.