UNRE helps East Sepik cocoa farmers

UNRE technical officer Anton Varvaliu pointing out the right pruning tactic on a cocoa tree to cocoa farmers at Sengri village

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK

Cocoa farmers in a remote part of Yangoru in the East Sepik province stand to benefit from a training package proposal offered by the University of Natural Resources and Environment (UNRE).

The package proposal that now needs funding from government and international donor agencies was initiated by Madefari Nimiefari integrated land group consultant Menza Wagun.

The proposal that involves the Integrated Agriculture Training Programme (IATP) offered by UNRE at its Vudal campus in East New Britain province will enable over 500 farmers in Sengri, Simbomie, Howi, Javari, Kwahuie, Kusik Baimuru, Merohombi and Marenge villages located in the Sepik plains to receive quality and much-needed training.

This training includes sustainable livelihoods and decision making, land use and soil fertility management, basic record and book keeping, cocoa processing, husbandry, small enterprise, and planning and decision making.

Ms Wagun, who is a clan member and has been a professional human resource trainer with various government and private sector for over 25 years, initiated the proposal to support the National Government’s 2010 - 2050 strategy plan.

“The proposal has already been approved and accepted by the East Sepik Cocoa Board,” he said.

“The focus of my initiative is on poverty alleviation.

“That part of East Sepik has a high rate of malnutrition-related diseases, as economic development is nil despite vast land and natural resources.”

Ms Wagun, whose last employment was with Oil Search, said her proposal would be first implemented as a model project in Sengri village before extending it to the nearby villages.

UNRE’s head trainer for IATP Owen Ngala, when speaking to the farmers at Sengri village last Sunday, said that they were more than happy to extend the programme to their area if only Ms Wagun’s proposal received funding from various donor agencies.