A K1.2 million partnership with Australia Government and the local farmers in PNG poised to increase cocoa production in Central province to meet international market demands.
The project is being driven by Paradise Food’s Queen Emma Chocolate (QEC) in cooperation with the Central Province enterprises: Frontier Primary Produce Ltd operating out of Kuriva, Cocoalands Development Ltd near Moreguina andAmazon Cocoa Cooperative in Abau. This is aimed to meet demand in the lucrative Australian and New Zealand markets.
Under the project, three dedicated extension officers will assist Central smallholder farmers, training them in advanced cocoa block management techniques, husbandry practices and processing.
Their work will be supported by the establishment of nurseries to raise around 62,500 high quality PNG Cocoa Board-certified seedlings for distribution by the three enterprises.
The initiative will help QEC address the chronic challenges it has faced in reliably accessing quality cocoa, helping it to cultivate a more localised and cost-effective supply of quality cocoa. This will reduce costs and boost earnings for cocoa farmers in the communities.
In helping strengthen the supply of quality cocoa, the project will also empower women working in the industry.
Women play a critical role in Central’s cocoa production, making up a significant proportion of smallholder cocoa farmers in the province. In addition, most of the roles in QEC – from top management through to marketing and processing – are filled by women.
Giau Duruba, Director for Amazon Cocoa Cooperative, described the support provided by the partnership as life changing for farming families.
Duruba said that to deliver their cocoa to buyers in Port Moresby, smallholder farmers from the remote Cloudy Bay area must first travel for seven hours by dinghy to Moreguina Station. From there they cover an additional 150 to 170 kilometres by road into Port Moresby to meet buyers.
They have to pay for the journey upfront and, without the partnership, the sale price is uncertain.
The project will not only boost the financial security of cocoa farming families but, by improving farming practices that reduce soil degradation and resource wastage. It will support joint PNG and Australia efforts to minimize the impact of climate change and help vulnerable communities adapt.
