Plans in place for farmers to export

 THE PNG Cocoa Board’s marketing project plans to leapfrog “middle players” in the market supply chain to ensure cocoa farmers directly market their produce overseas.

Richard Kawah, who is in charge of the Co-operative Marketing Project of the PNG Cocoa Board’s field services division in Madang-Morobe division, said the plan was to provide an opportunity for cocoa growers to market directly overseas and realise the full return of their hard work.

Kawah said current exports were only done through Wasamo Commodities Ltd and recent media reports that growers in Morobe were directly exporting overseas were incorrect.

Wasamo Commodities Ltd is owned by Morobe Cocoa Co-operatives Association Ltd (MCCAL).

He said while moves for direct exportation were getting off the ground, farmers should organise themselves into groups and affiliate with MCCAL.

“Morobe cocoa farmers are organising to start small but have not actually exported cocoa although the company has been granted approval to trade by the Cocoa Board of PNG last month,” Kawah said.

He said for farmers to fully benefit, they had to own the produce fully. Partial ownership meant partial benefits.

Wasamo Commodities Ltd has begun collecting bags of cocoa from farmers in Huon Gulf, Morobe. The first shipment bound for Malaysia is expected this week.