By SOLDIER BURUKA of DAL
A
10-year strategic plan is to be launched as part of the government’s efforts to
combat the spread of the cocoa pod borer (CPB) infestation in the country.
Relevant
government agencies will work closely with the private sector, provinces,
industry groups and farmers to implement the strategic plan as from this year.
A
concerted effort by all stakeholders including adequate funding is vital to
make the plan work, as the government is determined to boost cocoa production
to 100,000 tonnes by the year 2015.
Despite the spread of CPB, the industry has
achieved a new record in production of 59,350 tonnes for the 2008/9 cocoa year.
CPB
was first reported in East New Britain province
in 2006 and has since been detected and confirmed in seven cocoa-growing
provinces.
The latest confirmation is from Baluan Island
in Manus province.
At
the same time cocoa is making inroads into the highlands region with new
plantings in Simbu and Western Highlands provinces.
The
plan was revealed at a recent meeting of the national CPB steering committee
held in Port Moresby .
Officials
from the Cocoa Board, PNG Cocoa Coconut Institute, Department of Agriculture
and Livestock, Autonomous Region of Bougainville, East New Britain, Madang, New Ireland , and two companies, Agmark Pacific Ltd and
Monpi Cocoa Exports attended the meeting.
Provincial
representatives in particular were happy with the news saying that more positive
action with funding and resources were needed to tackle the CPB problem.
Cocoa
Board acting chief executive Lauatu Tautea said the plan would involve the
active promotion, facilitation and the adoption of CPB management practices
including the integrated pest and disease management (IPDM) technology as a way
of reducing CPB infestation and sustaining cocoa production.
The
strategy will include training and awareness on the CPB management technology,
provision of essential tools and chemicals.
He
said the support of stakeholders including private companies and service
providers was essential in the overall success of the plan.
“Of
paramount importance is the sustainability of the project which is anticipated
to be achieved through training as well as from farmer support activities,”
Tautea said.
“Adoption
of good practices by cocoa farmers in growing, producing and processing of
cocoa at the end of the day is most important.”
Tautea
said that if CPB was not contained and managed effectively it would result in
huge economic losses which would give rise to other social problems.
Officials
from the provinces were happy with the news and requested that funding be made
available quickly for the programme to commence.
Private
sector representatives said it was a positive move by the government and
stressed that they were ready to work closely with key agencies to fight the
CPB problem.
They said the private sector was already
working with cocoa farmers in areas such as setting up of nurseries and
conducting farmer training.
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