New road perfect gift for cocoa growers

By JEFFREY ELAPA
PEOPLE living on the border of Maprik and West Yangoru in East Sepik celebrated Christmas with the opening of a cocoa road, a gift from the Yangoru-Sausia district development authority.
The 5km Malabaim-Ilipaim Road, constructed at a cost of K300,000, was completed by local contractor Wangi Holdings just in time for Christmas.
It was opened by MP and National Planning and Monitoring Minister Richard Maru who was in the village to celebrate the festive season with his people.
During the opening, local traditional string band groups sang songs to Maru for helping their communities by funding the road, which has connected them to the outside world.
Local community leader Anton Nalibus said the road would enable 5000 people to transport their cocoa bags to markets and also allow vehicles to drive into their villages.
He said the road opening was timely as it fell a day before Christmas.
“This is indeed a Christmas gift to the people as the road was completed just before Christmas,” Nalibus told Maru.
“This is the first time, after struggling for many years, that we finally have a well-constructed road where we can carry our cocoa bags to the markets straight from the village.
“This cocoa road is a special Christmas gift to us and we thank you for your initiative.”
Local ward councillor Jerry Inadu thanked Maru for allowing a road to reach their community.
Inadu said Ilapaim and other villages in the area produced high-quality cocoa beans, but lacked a good road to take their produce to market.
In the past, farmers had to hire people to carry cocoa bags to the main road at Winze, on the main Sepik Highway.
Maru said economic roads were his priority.
“If there are many economic activities taking place, then we build roads for you,” he said.
“We want to promote SMEs and also help the Government to grow more cash crops to export.
“My focus is to make Yangoru a major contributor of cocoa and the biggest contributor to the country’s economy.”