Youths’ business bringing projects to communities

The National National
Kokonas Indastri Koperesen team visiting the group’s coconut nursery at Napapar 3 in Central Gazelle LLG, Gazelle, East New Britain. – Nationalpic by ROSELYN ELLISON

A SMALL business in Gazelle, East New Britain, is aiming to bring development to communities in partnership with stakeholders.
The Edge Rural Business Development Consultant is made up of youths three wards – Tinganagalip, Vunagogo and Napapar 3 – under the Central Gazelle local level government (LLG).
They have more than 300 farmers with the passion for business through agriculture.
The business, with youths at executive roles, aim to support the Gazelle development authority and organisations.
Lead consultant Eric Demas said the group started a cocoa programme under the production partnership agriculture project (PPAP) where they planted more than 300 cocoa clones.
He said they had more than 2,000 coconuts in their nursery funded by the Kokonas Indastri Koporesen that were ready for planting.
Demas said the group would be venturing into fresh produce and poultry.
“We are drafting our programmes and will be sending invoices to the Gazelle administration for funding,” he said.
“Our focus is to alleviate poverty in our communities to bring in development.”
A female member June Warpin said the three wards had not experienced development for a long time.