Farmer wants govt to set up chocolate factory

Business

By GLORIA BAUAI
A COCOA farmer and supplier out of Garaina valley in Morobe has challenged the Government to start a locally-owned chocolate processing plant in the district.
Victor Sonny, founder of the Garasa Cocoa Estate and Second Chance Foundation PNG, said this needed to be a focus under the Marape Government’s push in agriculture.
“Successive governments have been known for talking and making commitments without any realistic tangible implementation,” he said.
“If this government is serious, they must identify genuine farmers who are propping up the industry, do a proper round-table with them representing each sector and embark on actual downstream processing in the districts.”
Sonny said PNG could not continue to export the majority of its cocoa (wet and dry beans) and then buy expensive imported products.
“We must start processing and producing cocoa powder and chocolate products and other agricultural products.”
Sonny added that he had learned about the cocoa blending process but in order to commercialise production he would need proper machinery like industrial blenders.
“We can do this ourselves but the proper push and the drive is still missing,” he said, adding that the blockage was with government implementers.