Institute reveals issues faced by industry

 THE country’s cocoa and coconut industry is faced with four major issues namely the cocoa pest (pod borer), Bogia coconut syndrome, soils-depletion of nutrients and cocoa and coconut downstream processing. 

PNG Cocoa and Coconut Institute Ltd (CCIL) acting chief executive Dr Eremas Tade said this during a presentation in East New Britain.

The institute was mandated to provide research, development and extension in cocoa and coconut production, processing and marketing and through this they were addressing the issues.

Addressing teachers in a workshop on Wednesday, Tade urged them to impart the acquired knowledge to their students.

He said the cocoa curriculum would greatly benefit those students who missed out on opportunities to go further with their education and could return home and assist their parents with the family cocoa farms and earn income.

The teachers were expected to pilot a cocoa curriculum in their respective schools this year.