Three international agriculture experts visited farmers in the impact areas of the Ramu NiCo Project in Madang province recently.
The experts visited smallholder rice and cocoa projects at Erima and Bom village in the Rai Coast District.
Their visit prompted local farmers to express concerns of market access and fluctuating prices, lack of tools and the decline in agriculture extension support from government agencies such as Department of Agriculture and Livestock.
Furthermore, the visit was also to investigate the extent of cocoa development in terms of farmers’ interests in cocoa cultivation, area of land accessible for cocoa development, number of cocoa trees planted, cocoa production outputs for small holders, number of active cocoa dryers, farmers’ challenges in terms of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
Spokesperson Paul Voutier said they want to give fresh ideas to rural farmers in their projects.
The three experts will collaborate with the Ramu NiCo Agriculture Sustainable Program to assist with improved ideas and technical advice to farmers.
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