Farmers export large coconut oil quantities

 COCONUT farmers from Aroma Coast, Abau, in Central have recently started exporting large amount of oil from their coconuts, Kokonas Idastri Koporesen says. 

Managing director Dr James Kaiulo said the farmers could now benefit greatly as their coconuts processed into high valued products such as virgin coconut oil and soap, by Aroma Coconut Products Corporative Society Ltd.

“The coconut farmers can now rip countless benefits from their coconuts been processed into high value products such as virgin coconut oil and soap,” he said. 

The project was made possible through a partnership between the Government through Department of National Planning, KIK and PNG Cocoa and Coconut Institute Ltd  and small to medium enterprises in the area.

ACPC manager Garry Genolamar said the project had been buying more than 20,000 coconuts per month from nearby villages in Aroma Coast and had plans to increase and extend its buying depots all throughout Abau district. 

“Over five tonnes of VCO has been exported since 2013 in small quantities but this export of 1000 litres VCO and 1000 bars of coconut soap signifies its first biggest export. The collaborative partnership with Government, commodity boards enabled ACPC to meet the increasing domestic and international demand,” he said. Genolamar praised MP Sir Puka Temu for revitalising the project in 2010.

“The farmers have now unleashed the burden of marketing their coconuts in Port Moresby, where they spend almost 70 per cent of their earnings on freight cost alone.”