Additional information

 

Cocoa, a native of the Amazon rainforest, was introduced into PNG from Samoa by German settlers in 1889. Initially, the cocoa was produced by plantation. A cacao tree takes three to five years to produce its fruit known as a cacao pod and the average cacao tree produces 30-40 cacao pods a year. A tree will usually live 25 to 30 years and grow to 30 feet high.

 

Cocoa sustains around 151,000 families equating to about two million people in the country, and contributes an estimated K300 million per annum to the national economy. Cocoa is the third most important source of village agriculture income, after coffee and fresh food, and much of the work can be undertaken by women.

 

It is grown on 130,000 hectares in 14 of PNG’s 22 provinces with East Sepik, Bougainville, Madang, East New Britain, Morobe, West New Britain and New Ireland being the major producers.

 

The Department of Agriculture and Livestock, the lead government agency responsible for the management of the agriculture sector in Papua New Guinea states on its website at www.agriculture.gov.pg/cocoa/ that “over the past five years, cocoa production averaged 43,867 tons with 90% of these being produced by village farmers while 10% from the plantation sector.”

 

“Globally, PNG accounts for only 1% of the total production. However, PNG cocoa has earned a world reputation of being one of the finest quality cocoa producers being rated by the International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO) as having a ‘90% fine or flavour status’.”

 

“Prospects for growth in the global market for cocoa are looking bright. According to ICCO, global consumption of cocoa is increasing by 17% per annum. Much of the increase in volume is being driven by the emerging markets in Brazil, China and India. Between 2010 and 2015 consumption of chocolate in Brazil, China and India increased by 99%, 132% and 245%, respectively.”

 

PNG’s cocoa industry declined seriously due to an outbreak of Cocoa Pod Borer from 2008. Cocoa exports fell from 52,579 tonnes in 2008 to 33,090 tonnes in 2015. Agricultural scientists are working on more resistant strains and improving soil fertility and crop management.

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The photo below of fresh Cocoa Beans was sourced from www.cocoaboard.org.pg

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