Simon urges farmers to produce quality cocoa

MINISTER for Agriculture and Livestock John Simon has told farmers in East New Britain to produce quality cocoa.
Simon visited the province last week to inspect a number of projects under his department.
He told the farmers that for the price support programme to continue, farmers must maintain the quality of cocoa.
“How we process cocoa dry beans, how we look after cocoa, how we maintain the growth of cocoa trees and how we ferment cocoa beans all contribute to quality cocoa,” he said.
“This is a two-way thing.
“I want all the people in the ward to have money in their pockets and I am happy with what the Cocoa Board of PNG is doing to provide training, building fermentary, buying points and provide financial banking service where money goes straight to the farmers’ accounts.”