Firm, farmers in sweet alliance

A firm is not only reaching new heights with its premium chocolate products but it is also providing a source of income for 2000-plus smallholders.
According to Queen Emma Chocolate Company and Paradise Spices general manager Karina Makori, the chocolate brand created employment and skill development for Papua New Guineans.
She said it also supported rural farmers through its premium cocoa purchases.
In 2012, Paradise Foods embarked on its expansion into becoming a downstream processor of cocoa beans under the Queen Emma brand.
The Queen Emma Chocolate brand name was chosen to pay homage to Emma Coe, a Samoan by origin, who settled in East New Britain.
She acquired land from surrounding village chiefs and established large cocoa and coconut plantations.
With her brother-in-law Richard Parkinson, Emma Coe planted the first cocoa tree on her estate in Kokopo in 1884.
She became a well-known trader and was affectionately known as ‘Queen Emma of the South Seas’.
Since then, cocoa has become a significant agricultural crop in terms of its economic importance to PNG.
It contributes over K350 million to gross domestic product (GDP) annually and also contributes to the livelihood of over two million small holders. “Although PNG cocoa has been marred by incorrect fermentation and smoke taint due to poor management of wood-fired dryers, which greatly affects quality, we note and recognise the efforts of programmes like the Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research (Aciar), the Pacific Horticulture Agriculture Market Access (Phama), and World Vision, who are working in conjunction with Cocoa Board PNG in a number of projects to improving the quality of our cocoa,” Makori said.
“Improved quality will open up new markets for growers, providing they can consistently produce the same flavour profile beans and providing they have a rudimentary understanding of the cocoa market on a global scale.
“To promote the production of quality cocoa beans, Queen Emma Chocolate sources and pays a premium price to our approved growers.
“We will continue to work with our growers to seek appropriate training and resources required for the continuous production of quality cocoa.”
According to Market Researchers Technavio, the global chocolate market was estimated to be worth US$105 billion (K353bil) in 2016 and is expected to have an incremental growth to US$137bil (K461bil) by 2021.
They further identify the increasing demand for premium and seasonal chocolates as one of the primary growth factors for this market.
Makori said: “PNG is still something new and exotic for chocolate makers and consumers alike.
“We have found that chocolatiers are keen to differentiate themselves with a unique product, and Papua New Guinea cocoa and chocolate certainly have an assortment of fruity, nutty and earthy notes that excites the palate.
“The world of chocolate is a high-value business with real commercial opportunities for value-added premium cocoa products.
“PNG is ideally located to capitalise on the international high growth areas of emerging markets and territories and the opportunities are real and exciting.”