SULTONGO COCOA COORPERATIVE REVIVES COCOA IN WEST SEPIK

By RICKY ISRAEL in NUKU, WSP

THROUGH the EU – Strait PNG program, supported by the European Union and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Sultongo Coco Cooperative Society, locally based in Central Nuku, Nuku District, in West Sepik. is making a big difference for farmers in Papua New Guinea.

Since joining the Strait PNG program in 2021, the cooperative has seen huge improvements in their coco farming practices.

The cooperative started working with Strait PNG after facing a serious problem with a coco disease called Cocoa Pod Borer (CPB).

This disease killed many cocoa trees in the region, making it hard for farmers to earn a living. Through the Strait PNG program, the Sultongo Cooperative received training in better farming practices, such as how to prune and harvest cocoa, as well as how to manage new hybrid cocoa varieties introduced by the Coco Board of PNG to fight CPB.

Wilkenson Wansana, the manager of the cooperative, explained the impact of the training: “Before we received help from the Strait PNG program, we only had 5 varieties of coco. Now, we have 15 hybrid cocoa varieties, and our farm is recovering.”

The cooperative has also been supplying hybrid cocoa seedlings (young cocoa plants) to other farmers in two local areas: Maimai Wan and Nuku Central. In Maimai Wan, the cooperative has set up a cocoa center and trained 6 local farming groups. They’ve already distributed over 5,000 hybrid seedlings and plan to expand to 20,000 seedlings. In Nuku Central, the cooperative aims to distribute 10,000 more seedlings.

“We are very grateful for the help we’ve received from the Strait PNG program,” said Wansana. “The training and materials they provided have helped us grow healthy cocoa plants and improve our farming practices.”

“Our goal is to help farmers not only recover from the CPB disease but also succeed in the cocoa business,” Wansana added. “With the help of the Strait PNG program, we are building a strong future for our community.”

The support of the EU Strait PNG program, the Sultongo Cocoa Cooperative is leading the way in improving cocoa farming in West Sepik. This success shows how long-term investment and training can help farmers grow and thrive. With continued support, the Greater Sepik region is set for a brighter, more prosperous future in coco farming.

Picture Caption: Sultongo Cooperative Society Ltd manager Wilkenson Wansana, from left in yellow shirt with member of its Cooperative Society Ltd.