Cocoa
PICTURES: ANNETTE SETE, MERIBA TULO
strictly business
Cocoa show … (this page, clockwise from top left) an Ilugi farmer showing off his cocoa pods at the inaugural Cocoa of Excellence Show; more pods; a PNG flag flying on a cocoa float; winners and organisers at the show; (opposite page) a mouth-watering blend.
its great flavours and bean quality. However, he said, more work needs to be done to improve fermentation for PNG farmers to sell consistently into high-end markets. Cocoa is PNG’s third major commodity export after palm oil and coffee. It is valued at PGK360 million per year and supports 150,000 households. It is estimated that the industry is responsible for creating direct employment for 6000 people in PNG and indirect
employment for 10,000 in spin-off activities such as transportation, retailing and wholesaling. Air Niugini was the naming rights sponsor of the event, which was also supported by the Cocoa Board of Papua New Guinea, the Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access program and the World Bank’s Productive Partnerships in Agriculture Project. The next cocoa warwagira will be in Lae in 2018. n
The stories in our ‘Strictly Business’ section were first published in PNG’s online business magazine, businessadvantagepng.com, and are re-published by arrangement with Business Advantage International.
Cocoa is on the up The most recent cocoa market reports show that cocoa production has peaked at 40,508 tonnes after the cocoa pod borer devastated the industry in 2006. According to Cocoa Board of PNG’s chief executive officer, Boto Gaupu, production last year was up by 20 per cent, which resulted in increased export revenue by 32 per cent. “Cocoa production and exports in 2015 was 37,571 tonnes, an increase of 6856 tonnes,” he says.
Production and exports are expected to further increase over the next three years, Gaupu says. The increase in production is attributed to conducive weather that supports crop development in PNG and the success of various programs, he says. The programs include freight subsidies, alleviating the acute shortage of seeds, and ensuring there is availability of clonal planting materials that can withstand the cocoa pod borer. September – October 2017
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