The National 24 , 2022
PEOPLE of Basamuk in Madang are benefiting from a cocoa development programme supported by Ramu NiCo Management Ltd.
The programme has seen 15,000 cocoa seedlings raised, cloned and distributed to farmers from Yaganon to Gawar in Basamuk since 2013.
“Fortnightly harvests are made and sold to both wet and dry bean buyers in Basamuk and the farmers who have benefited from this programme are happy with what they are getting out of it,” officer in charge of the agriculture sector, Tony Gayu, said.
Others who did not get cloned cocoa seedlings are now asking if they can be included in the programme too.
Basamuk Cocoa Co-operative Society member Olawi Sebman said in past years, the harvest and sale of cocoa had been affected when the cocoa pod-borer disease appeared.
But now that the cocoa trees had grown and bore healthy fruits, farmers could harvest and sell their cocoa.
The company’s Basamuk community affairs department is also providing locals with insecticides and other farming items they can buy at the Basamuk based office at a reasonable price.
“Cocoa farmers who have benefitted from the cocoa development and rehabilitation programme appreciate the support given to them,” Sebman said.
