Ramu NiCo assisting farmers with cocoa plans

THE Ramu NiCo Management (MCC) Ltd is assisting cocoa nurseries in the Usino-Bundi, Madang, to help meet MP Jimmy Uguro’s plan for every family to have 100 cocoa trees.
Ramu NiCo agriculture field officer Samuel Masawa said they were working with farmers at the Iguruwe central cocoa nursery where 10,000 cocoa pod borer- tolerant varieties were being nurtured.
Masawa said it followed the signing of an agreement to foster the public-private partnership with the Usino-Bundi development authority.
The partnership agreement stated that MCC officers would be sharing technical skills and knowledge in cocoa nursery establishment, field preparation for commercial garden and planting.
Village cocoa nurseries and satellite nurseries in hamlets in the Usino local level government have been set up.
The Iguruwe cocoa nursery caters for 10,000 seedlings, the Urigina central nursery can hold 15,000 seedlings, Sausi with 15,000 and Waput with 15,000.
The seedlings prepared in October last year are now ready for planting.
“We are supplying seedling to those villagers who had filled polythene bags during the initial establishment of the nurseries,” Masawa said.