MP: Hybrid cocoa farming will raise family income

HYBRID cocoa farming is the way forward for families because it will earn them up to K4,000 a month when the price is high, Huon Gulf MP Ross Seymour says.
Seymour launched 13,000 cocoa seedlings at a nursery in Wabubu ward in Salamaua last Friday, accompanied by Morobe governor Ginson Saonu.
The project, in partnership with Saonu, the PNG Cocoa Board and Morobe Mining Joint Venture, is part of the provincial government’s triple one agriculture policy.
Seymour invested K20,000 in the project in May as a pilot to enable the people of Salamaua to utilise arable land to make a living for themselves, besides socio-economic services from government.
Seymour said a tractor would be provided to transport cash crops, store goods, school and health supplies while the district awaits the completion of a road construction currently at Uku Creek in Labu 2.
He said similar nurseries would be set up at Munum, Zifasing, Pile, Gabansis, Yalu and Irom.
“You have the fertile land suitable for cocoa that can be integrated with other crops such as vanilla, mustard, betel nut, banana and galip nut.”
He encouraged youths, parents and students to use their free time to do cocoa farming.