Morobe cocoa board shifts to cloned planting

Business

THE Morobe cocoa board is now shifting its focus from hybrid to cloned planting materials, says regional manager Anthon Ningi.
Ningi said cloned planting materials were preferred over hybrids as it increased production and it was resistant to the cocoa pod borer (CPB).
He said the regional cocoa board initially established 17 budwood gardens in 2015, which were now ready to start nurseries of cloned planting materials across the province.
“It’s easier this way to increase production in Morobe,” he said.
“We’ve begun expansion, our nurseries are underway; eventually, we’ll transfer from hybrid and move into cloned cocoa.”
Ningi encouraged interested cocoa growers to buy seedlings rather than start their own nurseries which was waste of time and money.
He said the cocoa board’s approach to this two years ago had resulted in Mainland Holdings now providing ready seedlings for cocoa farmers.
“In the past, Morobe sourced cocoa seedlings either from Madang or East New Britain which was not convenient as it is a costly exercise,” he said.
“Morobe now has an establishment that provides planting materials which were certified by the cocoa board for production and distribution.
“We’ve seen the importance in raising planting materials and making it available to our local people.”

One thought on “Morobe cocoa board shifts to cloned planting

  • Thanks Morbe Cocoa Board and Mainland Holdings for coming up with this initiative. It is very costly to get seedlings from Rabaul and Madang. This will really boost our local cocoa farmers in Morobe

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