Miner assists farmers with cocoa project

By GLORIA BAUAI
THE Wafi-Golpu Joint Venture (WGJV) is committed to seeing cocoa take over its mine impacted areas while waiting for the Government to approve for the mine operations to start.
WGJV manager David Wissink said agriculture provided an opportunity for everyone and for their project in particular, cocoa was a good choice.
According to a company factsheet, WGJV worked with the Lower Watut farmers corporative society and other partners since 2010, creating a vibrant cocoa industry among the 1,000 cocoa growing families in the project area.
This programme provided for the development of nurseries for distribution to farmers, crop husbandry training, cocoa bean fermenting and marketing assistance.
Wissink said a similar arrangement had been expanded to include Labuta, Buang and Salamaua as of last year.
“I want to see cocoa take over these areas,” he said.
“We don’t know when Wafi-Golpu mine will get into operation, but we will support agriculture as long as we’re here.”
Wissink thanked the Government for the price support scheme which he added would provide the assurance of better return to their farmers.