Hybrid cocoa project afoot in Nawaeb

HYBRID cocoa has been found to be the higher yielding variety and Nawaeb’s Ahi Rural local level government (LLG) area has ventured into it its cultivation, an official says.
Allied Sustainable Agribusiness project officer Pipi Yagamindi confirmed that over 1,000 hybrid clone seedlings were planted at Bumbi, just outside Bumayong.
Yagamindi said the cocoa project located at Bumbi will be the seed bank for the district.
“The farmers will now have access to adequate seedlings to increase the size of their cocoa plots in their villages,” he said.
Yagamindi confirmed that was an incentive for promoting this variety of cocoa, the district was hoping to buy the cocoa off the farmers instead.
He said other sites would also be identified so more seed banks would be created.
“Whilst identifying potential sites, we would also be assessing the level of production so that we were able to determine the monthly yield,” he said.
Yagamindi said the aim of the project was to increase cocoa production in the district.
“We want to provide more income earning opportunities for our people through agricultural activities.”
PNG Cocoa Board Lae extension officer Lungawe Timos said the project was the first major cocoa farm to be established.
“There were 18 varieties of the new clone breed of cocoa seedlings and all of these varieties were pest resistant and can be harvested in less than two years,” she said.
Nawaeb MP Theo Pelgen said the seedlings would be cultivated within the nursery to be established at the Bumbi project site.