Hiritano Communities Push for Cocoa
Communities along the Hiritano Highway, from Brown River – Vanapa LLG are excited about the prospects of growing and selling cocoa as a viable and sustainable income generation activity.
Community leaders were brought down for a tour of the Paradise Food ‘s Queen Emma Chocolate factory. The thrust of the excursion is to assure the people that there is a readily available market for cocoa in Port Moresby.
Charlie Gilichibi, the project facilitator said “the Hiritano Highway communities have the land and labor, but lack capital and entrepreneurship. I am providing social entrepreneurship to engage the communities and bring all the actors together so we can achieve outcomes that will benefit thousands of people including women and children. My goal is to provide the entrepreneurial leadership so that in 5-10 years’ time the communities are generating upward of K30 million annually from a minimum production of 10,000 metric tons of cocoa.”
Vanapa community leader, Emmanuel Ume said “we have very fertile flat lands and are willing to get into cash crop farming. However, over the years there has been a lack of adequate government support and inconsistency in extension services from the relevant agencies. We receive cocoa seedlings in piece meal, grow them and they grow into forests.”
The community leaders were given a full tour of the Queen Emma chocolate factory. They were enthused by the immersive educational experience and look forward to farming cocoa.
Esepa Vagi, Akuku village ward member said ” we appeal to Hon Peter lsoaimo, MP for Kairuku-Hiri and relevant Government agencies including the Cocoa Board and DPI to come forward and contribute capital towards procurement of cocoa seedlings, polly bags and materials for nurseries. We have the land and man-power to go into agriculture farming. We need only a little help from our MP and government authorities and we will do the rest.”
The Brown River – Vanapa LLG community leaders were thankful and appreciative of the opportunity accorded to them by Paradise Foods to have a first hand experience of how cocoa moves from a farm to the final product of a chocolate bar.
