Papua Programme Newsletter June 2020 — Issue #1

Support to Rural Entrepreneurship, Investment and Trade (Streit Tok)

STREIT to revamp cocoa production First cocoa propagation training held STREIT PNG held A preliminary assessment of cocoa farms in six of the eight Two trainings on cocoa propagation were successfully deliv- major cocoa producing districts in the Sepik region by the ered to a group of about 120 cocoa farmers from eight dis- tricts of East Sepik and Sandaun provinces. Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist shows that yields are 18 tricts of East Sepik and Sandaun provinces. The training was times lower than potential yields registered by farmers in under the Support to Rural Entrepreneurship, Investment and Capital District (NCD). Bougainville Province (PNG) as shown on the figure below. Trade in (STREIT PNG) programme co-fi- nanced by the European Union. PNG) programme co-financed by the European Union. These low yields are primarily explained by the fact that an overwhelming majority of the Greater Sepik cocoa farmers The STREIT PNG programme launched its practical activities have not only abandoned their cocoa blocks but because immediately after the Project Steering Committee inaugural farms are poorly managed, cocoa trees are old and are not tol- meeting held in February 2020 and establishment of the erant to CPB. programme office at Provincial Department of Agriculture and Livestock (PDAL) in East Sepik province. culture and Livestock (PDAL) in East Sepik province. The infestation of cocoa farms by CPB and the fluctuation in prices at the international market over the years forced them This four-day training event focused on cocoa propagation. to shift from cocoa production to other alternative. Farmers from Angoram, Ambunti, Yangoru Saussia, Wasera Gawi and Districts of East Sepik and Aitape-Lumi, The STREIT programme, in collaboration with the Cocoa Nuku Districts of Sandaun provinces attended. In addition, the Board, has committed to teach the farmers sustainable man- Lumi, Nuku Districts of Sandaun provinces attended. training equipped them with necessary tools to propagate agement techniques and to introduce CPB tolerant cocoa cocoa. Farmers were provided seedlings, allow-ing them to seedlings for cocoa farm rehabilitation. rejuvenate cocoa blocks with varieties tolerant to cocoa pod borer (CPB). The cocoa farmers are therefore expected to seize the oppor- tolerant to cocoa pod borer (CPB). tunity to revamp production up to a level similar to that of Bougainville and implicitly their income in the years to come. The training was led by Rabi Rasaily, a cocoa expert from FAO and supported by specialists from Cocoa Board. This training was organized in a cocoa nursery to allow hands-on experience for the farmers and direct distribution of seedlings. Selection of farmers for future trainings and 1,600 activities is ongo-ing and is managed by STREIT PNG, who will bution of seedlings. approach respec-tive local representatives in the East Sepik and Sandaun prov-inces to organize its future beneficiaries.

STREIT FACTS 91 . Full name: Support to Rural Entrepreneurship, Sandaun provinces to organize its future beneficiaries. Investment and Trade in Papua New Guinea Bourgainville Sepiks (programme area) Co-Financed: European Union Budget: USD 89 800 589 Duration: 1/DEC/2019 30/NOV/2024 Implementation: 2019 dry cocoa beans yields United Nations joint programme Administrative Agent: (KgDB/ha/yr) in programme area FAO Partners: ILO, UNCDF, ITU, UNDP

Inthe anothernumber of meeting seedlings with production the STREIT from the team, nursery the the Yangoru/ assess- mentSaussia of existingMember cocoa of Parliament blocks and requested fermentaries STREIT with program facts and figuresto support of cocoa seedling blocks production area and number in Haripmo of cocoa Nursery trees should to meet be conducted.its target. These data will guide the program on planning of ap- propriateHowever, interventions the STREIT in the team district. highlighted that before Thedetermining Yangoru/Saussia the number DDA has of seedlingsallocated K50,000 production for the from assess- the nurseryment of existing the assessment cocoa blocks ofand existingproduction cocoa in the blocksdistrict. andIt is fermentariesexpected that a with report facts will and be ready figures in ofthree cocoa months. blocks This area will andthen number enable the of cocoaSTREIT trees programme should to be support conducted. the seedling These datapro- willduction guide at Haripmo the Nursery. program on planning of appropriate interventions in the district. The Yangoru/Saussia DDA has allocated K50,000 for the assessment of existing cocoa blocks and production in the district. It is expected that a report will be ready in three months. This will then enable the STREIT programme to support the seedling production at Haripmo Nursery. Sepik to be revamped

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©FAO meeting for STREIT PNG held Google Earth Distribution of cocoa pod borer tolerant seedling

Mapping of Cocoa & Vanilla Blocks initiated Distribution of clonal seedlings starts

The STREIT programme team, working in collaboration with The distribution of cocoa pod borer (CPB) tolerant Provincial Department of Agriculture and Livestock (PDAL) and clonal seedlings to participants from Nuku district, in Cocoa Board, initiated mapping of the selected cocoa and vanilla Papua New Guinea, has commenced. blocks in Wewak districts. To understand the existing situation of Cocoa blocks, the STREIT PNG programme with support from . After the pilot training, 5000 clonal seedlings were distributed Cocoa Board and PDAL con-ducted a field survey by walking along to 117 cocoa farmers´ initiative to cocoa blocks sourcesand of fisheries.income. the perimeter of Cocoa and Vanilla blocks in Wewak Rural rehabilitation and replacement of infested trees with CPB district and map the area using Geo-Logger mobile application tolerant seedlings. and later laid the map on Google Earth Pro. The clonal seedlings were collected from various cocoa Twenty five Cocoa blocks of various sizes and two vanilla blocks board registered nurseries located in Wewak and Yangoru were mapped and from the observation and discussion with farm- Saussia dis- ers around 95% of Cocoa blocks are mainly infested by Cocoa Pod Borer (CPB) and by fungus (Black pod). The mapping exercise lays foundation for the general data collec-tion for STREIT PNG programme and will continue across the Greater Sepik as more cocoa, vanilla and farming communities will join the programme. Inaugural programme steering committee

The project steering committee for the Support to Rural En-trepreneurship, Investment and Trade in Papua New Guinea (STREIT PNG) programme held its inaugural meeting at the De-partment of Agriculture and Livestock office in Waigani. National senior representatives from the participating govern-ment agencies and key partners attended the meeting. The PSC will oversee the overall direction and progress of the programme in delivering on improved and sustainable economic development through a value chains approach and focused on cocoa, vanilla and fisheries.

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