Wanigela agro-foresty project to lift Oro

Farming, Normal
Source:

The National, Thursday 23rd August, 2012

By GYNNIE KERO
NATIONALLY owned company Manghew Merchants Ltd (MML) has plans to develop the economic status and service delivery in Oro province through its investment in the Wanigela agro-forest project.
This is the commitment made by managing director Benstead Taru in Port Moresby last week.
Taru said Wanigela has no cash crop and project’s initial focus was to supply local farmers with logistics and provide sustainability for their livelihoods.
In 2010, MML decided to invest in the Wanigela integrated cocoa/coconut rehabilitation and development (WICCRDP), a project developed by Victory Plantation Ltd with the aim of developing 1,500 hectares of virgin forest into a cocoa plantation.
The project targets to supply one million cocoa and coconut seedlings to smallholder farmers in the Wanigela/Collingwood area over a five year period.
Since the commencement of the project in September 2011, 20,000 hybrid cocoa seedlings have been purchased from PNG Cocoa Coconut Institute (PNGCCI) and supplied to farmers in Wanigela.
He said both core cocoa farmers and outer growers have been supplied seedlings sufficient to plant an estimated 30 hectares of cocoa.
It is anticipated that by 2017, Wanigela would have the capacity to produce between 250,000 and 300,000 tonnes of dry cocoa beans
He said income from the cocoa and coconut industries will be a massive boost to the provincial economy, thus opening the gateway for other government services including banking and postal services to reach the area.
“Materials for a central cocoa fermentary dryer are being purchased and this will cater for the  processing and marketing needs of farmers who already have standing cocoa trees.
“The project will serve as a model block for farmers and funds derived from this will go towards financing ongoing operational costs of the project in the province”, he said.