Suau getting K200,000 for cocoa production development

REMOTE Suau in Alotau, Milne Bay, will receive K200,000 from the Government’s agriculture intervention programme to develop its cocoa industry, including the building of a 100,000-seedling capacity nursery.
Agriculture and Livestock Minister John Simon announced this in Laimodo village last Friday after launching a Milne Bay government-funded cocoa drier.
Simon and his delegation also visited a hybrid cocoa garden in the village as part of his three-day tour of rural Alotau to visit and talk to farmers.
Laimodo is three hours by road from Alotau and is near the border with Central.
Alotau MP Charles Abel, Milne Bay administrator Ashan Numa, Suau LLG president Ricky Morris, PNG Cocoa Board chief executive officer Boto Gaupu, Kokonas Indastri Koporesen managing director Allan Aku, local leaders, representatives from commodity boards and public servants attended the minister’s visit.
Simon said the money would be paid soon so that the Papua New Guinea Cocoa Board could begin work.
He said this was all part of the Government’s strategy of going rural.
“The Government has decided to refocus, to go rural,” he said.
“We’re going rural and supporting farmers in the village.
“But how can you motivate the farmers?
“We came up with price support because farmers are giving up on agriculture.
“They’re saying there is no future in agriculture and that it’s a very difficult to do business in PNG”
Simon, en route to Suau, said he was struck by the massive tracts of fertile land which could be used to grow cocoa, coconut, vanilla and other cash crops.
Coffee also grows well in the mountains of Alotau.
“Does any of you sitting here not own land?” Simon asked the villagers.
“None of you put your hand up so everyone must have a cocoa garden.
“We will build a very big nursery here, of at least 50,000 to 100,000 seedlings.
“We will also build big nurseries for coffee and coconuts.”
Simon urged the villagers be seriously about farming and start going back to the land.