Group makes K15,000 from selling 42 bags of cocoa

A COCOA cooperative in East New Britain received more than K15,000 from the sale of 42 bags of cocoa dry beans last week. Raluan Number Two Cocoa Farmers Corporative is the only group in the Balanataman local level government of Rabaul selling dry cocoa beans as part of the cocoa price support programme.  The group was formed in 2014 with more than 50 members. Since the onset of the cocoa-pod borer, they had to properly plan their activities. But the Cocoa Board of PNG helped them replant cocoa and manage their cocoa blocks. Group chairman Benson Likius welcomed the price support programme in which they could buy a kilo for K3 from the members of the group. “This is the first time to sell 42 bags and we are so excited,” he said. “This is our hard work and money will get will go to the farmer’s pocket to sustain their families. “This is a big relief for farmers.” Cocoa Board coordinator in East and West New Britain Moses Burin said the journey the group started was not easy and urged them to continue with the hard work.