Cocoa farmers in Madang to benefit from country’s largest seed bank

Cocoa farmers in Madang are set to benefit from the country's biggest seed bank, established at Bauri, along the Madang-Ramu Highway.

The recipients of this project are farmers living along the 135 kilometres Ramu Nickel slurry pipeline that runs from the mine site at Kurumbukari in the Usino-Bundi District all the way to the refinery site at Basamuk, Raikos.

The project covers all the four landowner groups in Kurumbukari, Inland Pipeline, Coastal Pipeline and Basamuk, that are involved in the Ramu Nickel Project.

Madang Governor Ramsey Pariwa officially launched the seed bank on February 13th, witnessed by the Member for Usino-Bundi, Vincent Kumura, and company officials from Ramu Nickel.

Pariwa hailed the project due to its ability to grow in both the coastal and Highlands region.

The Bauri Cocoa Seed Bank is currently accommodating 60,000 seedlings, however its holding capacity at one time is 10,000.

The Madang governor said his government is focused on empowering the people of Madang Province to be economically independent and has started with a million kina funding last year to PNG Cocoa Board to help establish nurseries in the districts and distribute to farmers.

The Madang Government also gave a vehicle to assist in rolling out the program to the six districts.

He also indicated an increase in the funding allocation towards the program this year, stating a K2 million commitment.

Pariwa said, "Ramu Nickel has been supporting other programs in health, education, and other sectors, but this time, it has established the largest cocoa nursery in Papua New Guinea.

"I thank the company because we are aligned to serve the same people."

He also urged the people to get their hands dirty by planting cocoa so that they could see the benefits.

"Dirty your hands and get clean money because this is God's principle," he said.

Pariwa also committed a K100,000 to assist the project and a further K50,000 to Bauri Primary School, which caters for almost 300 children from communities surrounding the nursery.

Meanwhile, Eric Kuman, General Manager of Community Affairs with Ramu Nickel, explained that the four landowner groups (LOA) chipped in K50,000 each to establish the seed bank.

This was money from their Community Development Funds that the company pays them.

He said, "Ramu Nickel only managed, facilitated, and made sure the project was delivered as planned."

Kuman said cocoa has been in Madang Province for a very long time and urged people from the impact areas who have land available to own the project, collect seedlings from the nursery, and start planting in order to enjoy its benefits.

He added Ramu Nickel's plan to have cocoa as a sustainable cash crop for people along the company's development corridor aligns well with the Madang Government's plan to empower the people of Madang economically through cocoa farming.

"We want to improve the economy of this province, and you will write this story yourselves," Kuman told those who gathered to witness the launching.