District to launch agriculture projects

THE Yangoru-Saussia district in East Sepik is now preparing for major economic growth with several key agriculture projects set to be launched this year.
MP Richard Maru visited the district accompanied by members of his district administration and partners including the Cocoa Board of PNG (CBPNG), Innovative Agro Industries Limited, United Nations Women, Bank South Pacific and Divine Word University.
Maru, who is also Minister of National Planning, assured the people that the district’s plans would be realised, beginning with the much anticipated Mamose Regional Nursery in the Sepik plains to be completed by November.
CBPNG chief executive officer Boto Gaupu said once completed, the cocoa nursery would have a capacity of producing two million cocoa seedlings every year and be supplied to the Mamose region (East Sepik, West Sepik, Madang and Morobe), making it the largest cocoa nursery in the country.
Gaupu said the first 80,000 seedlings would be ready for planting in April next year.
Gaupu said currently, Yangoru-Saussia produces K12 million in export revenue for cocoa and from this, K10 million was circulated within the district.
“So far, the cocoa nursery sheds have already been put up and building materials for the residents have already arrived in Wewak for assembling,” he said.
Gaupu said a contract had also been awarded for the ring roads to be built around the nursery sheds.