WATSIMALA CORPORATIVE EMPOWERS LOCAL COMMUNITIES

By Angeline KARIUS

LAGONO Watsimala Intergrated Co-orperative Society, a local cooperative in Sorom of Selau Constituency, Bougainville, is empowering its community to improve the living standard of men, women and children in the community.

Consultant Jerome Nohu says the society established 2022 with the aim to develop the community and improve people’s living standards.

The society also established and hosted 2 consecutive spices festivals.

Picture Caption: Members of Lagono Watsimala Integrated Cooperative in Sorom, Selau Constituency

Mr Nohu says, it also aims to buy and sell copra to save extra transport cost incurred by farmers who pay K15/ K20 per bag.

“Farmers only pay K3 per bag by transporting their copra bags to the cooperatives storage by which they are able to save K12 to K17 per bag”, he said.

Meanwhile, Vice Chairman of cooperative Bruno Yongin says the group has been weighing copra from local farmers in Sorom, and have so far stored a total of 49 bags.

“A total of 37 bags have been sold at copra agent at CPL and about 2000 bags have also been sold to Sunkamap.

He stated that now the group is looking into cocoa nursery and is now seeking financial assistance from local development partners and ABG government to do so.

Secretary Isac Hareke also supported both his colleagues maintaining the basis of establishing the Lagono Watsimala Integrated Cooperative is to improve the living standard of the people in the community.

He stressed that the increase in price meant the group pays for K1.75 to K2.00 per kg for a bag of copra.

“Most farmers have expressed satisfaction by selling copra to the group maintaining they are seeing more money in their hands”, he added.