Interest in cocoa drops

 EAST New Britain has seen a drop in cocoa fermentaries – 3,000 to 370 – indicating a loss in interest among farmers since the cocoa pod borer was discovered in 2006.

Acting manager field services for the PNG Cocoa Board Charles Koel was speaking during the signing of a memorandum of understanding between 12 co-ooperatives, 10 local level governments, ENB provincial government and the Cocoa Board. He blamed the loss in interest on the effects of the borer.

“That is the scenario now with 371 fermentaries only operating in the whole of ENB and registered with the board,” he said.

Koel said inspections in 2011 under the cocoa quality and promotion project in the four districts, 17 LLGs and 296 wards saw 3,717 fermentaries inspected.

“Out of that, only 458 fermentaries (12%) were registered with the cocoa board and 3,259 are no longer registered,” he said.

He said about 373 people destroyed their cocoa dryers while 643 turned to copra. 

“We cancelled 1,546 fermentaries in ENB, suspended 766, gave warnings to 450 to sort out problems with their fermentaries.” 

So at present only 371 fermentaries are in good condition.”

Koel said ENB, before being hit by the cocoa pest, used to be the country’s leading cocoa producer, producing 20,000 tons annually and contributing K100 million to the economy.

Families in the wards thrived on the income earned from their cocoa farms.

Following the CPB incursion, production fell from 20,000 to 7,000 tons after the third year. 

He said the projection for last year saw ENB producing 4,000 tonnes and earning only K16 million