Tiobuin-Sipotavai, Tinputz, Bougainville, 17 June 2025 – Deep in the cocoa-rich heartland of North Bougainville, work is well underway on a long-awaited transformation: the 5.8-kilometre rehabilitation of the Tiobuin-Sipotavai Feeder Road. Spearheaded by the Papua New Guinea Agriculture Commercialization and Diversification (PACD) Project, funded by the PNG Government with support of the World Bank, this critical infrastructure upgrade is poised to revolutionise access for over 2,000 farmers in one of the region’s highest cocoa-producing zones.
PACD Senior Engineer Raymond Paulias, who is overseeing the project, says the road — originally constructed in the 1950s by a local cocoa cooperative — had seen no formal upgrades in decades.
“This is our third cocoa feeder road – two in East New Britain and one in Bougainville under the PACD programme. The goal is simple but crucial: upgrading this old feeder road to an all-weather standard so farmers can bring their produce to market consistently,” said Mr Paulias.
The project, contracted to Raibro Construction Ltd, began in November 2024 under a 12-month timeline. Despite delays caused by two to three months of heavy rain, the project is on track for completion by September 2025.
The scope of work includes laying a durable road base, constructing two concrete causeways across local rivers, and adding reinforced concrete pavement sections for long-term sustainability. Once complete, the community will be trained in routine maintenance—clearing drains, cutting grass, and managing minor repairs—to ensure the road remains usable long after the project team exits.
“This is more than just a road,” Paulias explained. “It’s about sustaining agriculture, building resilience, and giving the people of Tiobuin a real gift this year.”
Encouragingly, community support has been strong, with local leaders, landowners, and residents cooperating with the contractor throughout the construction process. With around 500 metres of road base left to complete and bridge works about to begin, the final stretch is in sight.
The PACD Project, backed by the PNG Government and the World Bank, aims to transform rural agricultural corridors like this one across the country. In Bougainville, where cocoa is king, this upgraded road means not just better access to markets but also renewed optimism for the future.
“The same story is repeated across the country,” Paulias noted. “Poor roads make it hard for our people to bring produce to market. But projects like this—working hand-in-hand with communities—are helping to change that.”