K14,400 needed to get Markham’s cocoa shipment away

By PISAI GUMAR
UNASMU Cocoa Cooperative in Markham, Morobe, is preparing to export its first 15 metric tonnes, or 240 bags, overseas and needs
K14,400 in freight-cost assistance from the district.
Group chairman Bruce Atangampui and secretary Gonny Waenesai loaded the cocoa bags at Mutzing on Friday for fumigation at Agmark Lae depot before being exported.
Atangampui said that the group initiated an arrangement with Agmark for a three-year trial export, starting with 240 bags.
“Agmark secured us two export avenues in London and New York,” he said.
“The first container will be exported to London.”
He said the cooperative was established in 2011 with more than 30 fermentery owners and over 1000 farmers from Umi-Atzera and Onga-Waffa local level governments.
“The Markham district development authority and MP Koni Iguan assured us of the shipment cost of K14,400,” Atangampui said.
“The administration is yet to release the money.
“We have loaded the container ready for fumigation.”
Waenesai said that the nursery site contained 20,000 budded cocoa seedlings for distribution to farmers.
“We have been working closely and in partnership with Agmark, which has been very helpful through cocoa rehabilitation activities under the Productive Partnership in Agriculture Programme (PPAP),” he said.
The PPAP is funded by the World Bank through its International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD).
“The 20,000 cocoa seedlings are inadequate,” Waenesi said. “We still have ample arable land along the Markham plains that need to be filled up with cocoa trees.”
“Within the three-year export trial given to us, we will prove our production capability.”