Pariwa describes 10-year cocoa strategic plan as milestone

Madang governor Ramsey Pariwa has described the newly launched Cocoa Industry Strategic Plan 2026–2035 as a significant milestone that will guide Papua New Guinea’s cocoa sector into the next 50 years.

Speaking at the official launch in Port Moresby last Thursday, Pariwa praised the 10-year roadmap for establishing a clear, evidence-based framework to transform the industry into a productive, high-quality and internationally competitive sector.

He commended Agriculture Minister John Boito for driving the initiative and acknowledged the unified support from both sides of Parliament and government department heads.

“Today, cocoa has united us,” Pariwa said.

He emphasised that cocoa remains one of the few agricultural commodities capable of engaging farmers across all four regions of the country.

Pariwa said Madang’s commitment to expanding cocoa production started when the provincial government partnered with the Cocoa Board of PNG in 2025 to launch the Madang Provincial Cocoa Development Roll-out Program.

Under the partnership, the Madang Provincial Government invested K1.1 million in 2025 to supply 1.5 million seedlings to local farmers. Funding was increased to K2 million this year, with K3 million earmarked for next year, bringing total provincial investment so far to K3.1 million.

“The Provincial Executive Council deliberated on what is best for Madang and identified cocoa as the best cash crop commodity to prioritize,” Pariwa said.

He said cocoa thrives across Madang’s diverse geography, including its island, coastal and highland areas, making it ideal for rural income generation.

In 2025, Madang generated K63 million in cocoa export revenue, with most earnings flowing directly to rural smallholders. Madang currently ranks fifth nationally in cocoa production and is the Cocoa Board’s primary provincial partner.

Key developments under the provincial program include establishing a major cocoa clone nursery in the Ambenob Local Level Government area and partnering with Ramu NiCo Management [MCC] to create a 60,000-to-100,000 seedling capacity nursery at Bauri along the Madang-Ramu Highway, set to be the largest nursery facility in the nation.

Cocoa Board of PNG chief executive officer Jesse Anjen stated that the 2026–2035 strategic plan targets an increase in national cocoa exports from the current 60,000 metric tonnes to 100,000 metric tonnes by 2035.

Anjen said the strategy aims to lift smallholder yields from 600–800 kilograms per hectare to between 1,000 and 1,500 kilograms per hectare over the next decade.