April 28th 2021
Leading cocoa stakeholder Wafi-Golpu Joint Venture (WGJV) has commended the Marape Government for introducing the Cocoa Price Support Programme in Morobe.
WGJV Head of External Affairs Sustainability and Development, David Wissink (pictured left with PNG Cocoa Board CEO Boto Gaupu and Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock EO Jack Akike), made the commendation during launching of the price support programme in Morobe at Munum Village, Markham Valley, on Monday (April 26th, 2021).
The mining company has been involved with cocoa development work in Morobe since 2010, especially with the Lower Watut Farmers’ Cooperative Society and other partners, to create a vibrant cocoa industry.
The WGJV-supported programme has provided for the development of nurseries for high-yielding cocoa varieties for distribution to farmers, crop husbandry training, cocoa bean fermenting and drying training, quality control training and marketing assistance.
The programme has supplied eight driers on a cost-sharing basis to enable farmers to produce higher quality beans.
Through this partnership, the cocoa farmers in the project area won cocoa quality awards in 2015 at the prestigious ‘Salon du Chocolat’ in Paris – placing Watut cocoa as among the best in the world – and 2017 at PNG’s inaugural cocoa show.
Work is currently progressing at Babul on a new cocoa nursery which will produce and distribute up to 100,000 seedlings per quarter to farmers in the area.
The WGJV facilitated a partnership between the Lower Watut Farmers’ Cooperative Society and Paradise Foods’ subsidiary, Queen Emma Chocolates, to supply cocoa beans for production of Lower Watut-branded dark chocolate, which is now on sale at selected shops.
It funded the ‘Kumul Bilong Morobe’ Cocoa Show in 2019, which brought together cocoa farmers from all over the country, to showcase their produce.
The WGJV also entered into an agreement with the PNG Cocoa Board to work with Lower Watut and Babuaf cooperative societies.
Last year it signed an extension of that agreement to work with cocoa farmers in Labuta (Nawaeb), Buang (Bulolo) and Salamaua (Huon Gulf).
Mr Wissink commended the Marape Government, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Hon. John Simon and PNG Cocoa Board CEO Boto Gaupu, for the programme.
“This is something that is empowering the farmers,” he said.
“We want to see that all the farmers are happy.”
Mr Wissink said WGJV would build new bridges over the Markham and Watut rivers which would open up these areas for agriculture activities, including increased activities in cocoa.
“We (WGJV) will continue to support,” he said.
“Our work in agriculture will continue.
“It is the commitment of Wafi-Golpu that as long as we are around, we will continue to support agriculture.”