EASTERN HIGHLANDS PG SIGNED MoA TO SELL COCOA

BY VICKY BAUNKE, in EHP

THE Papua New Guinea Cocoa Board has signed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Eastern Highlands Provincial government to sell cocoa that will see a boost in the production of Cocoa farming in the Eastern Highlands Province.

The signing was officiated by Cocoa Board CEO Jesse Anjen and Eastern Highlands Provincial Administrator Allan Lossat the Bird of Paradise Hotel in Goroka.

Mr Loss speaking on behalf of the Eastern Highlands Governor Simon Sia added that the EHPG has a key priority in Agriculture followed by Infrastructure which Cocoa is also part of.

He assured that the EHPG would increase funding for Cocoa in next year’s budget which includes freight subsidies as in coffee to boost Agriculture activity in the province, whilst also adding that the Provincial government has so far invested K400, 000 into the Cocoa industry which includes the establishment from seedling, to fermentation, packaging, freight and now market access.

He said the MOA will further strengthen the partnership between the EHPG and the Cocoa Board at a national function level.

PNG Cocoa Board CEO Jesse Anjen said Cocoa is a national crop currently grown throughout all 22 Provinces throughout the country with Climate change being a factor.

Mr Anjen stated that with Eastern Highlands Province has an alternative crop that can be cultivated among other food crops as well. This will enable Cocoa farmers in the Highlands especially in the rural Cocoa producing district in Karamui and Jimi in the Jiwaka Province access to market and other Cocoa producing areas in the Highlands.

The occasion also coincided with the official commissioning farmers in Eastern Highlands a the Tropical Supply Limited facility in Goroka as the first Cocoa buyer based in Goroka Eastern Highlands Province and was witnessed by Cocoa farmers in Eastern Highlands Province, the Cocoa Board representatives, the Provincial department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL) and the first EHP based Cocoa buyer Tropical Supply Limited.