Govt to start cocoa nurseries in districts

THE Highlands will be the new frontier of cocoa with the government looking at establishing a regional nursery to cater for two million cocoa seedlings for farmers in the region each year, Minister for National Planning Richard Maru says.

Maru said the government through the PNG Cocoa board would be investing in cocoa to ensure there were eight million seedlings produced and distributed to farmers every year.

In his address to cocoa farmers, exhibitors and participants during the 2019 PNG Kumul Bilong Morobe Cocoa of Excellence show in Lae on Friday, Maru said cocoa nurseries would be established in the four regions of the country.

“Currently PNG is exporting 42,000 metric tonnes and over the next five years, we should reach 100,000 metric tonnes and beyond,” he said.

“To do that would mean a lot of effort from all farmers and everyone in the sector.”

“Our government has decided to partner all districts to embark on district nurseries.

“We are building the Mamose nursery in the Sepik plains by December.

“That will produce a further two million seedlings a year, currently the whole nation depends on Kerevat for two million seeds a year.

“By April 2020, the Mamose nursery should start producing and we will increase seedlings by 100 per cent.

“We are already studying the Southern nursery in Abau and we hope to complete the nursery next year.”

Maru said the Highlands nursery would be set up in Jiwaka because the government was committed to supporting the growth of the cocoa industry and to grow the size of the export volume.

Chimbu deputy administrator (field services) Walkaima Essy, who was part of the Chimbu administration team to showcase the growth of cocoa at higher altitudes farming during the show, said Maru’s announcement was timely.

“Karimui is producing cocoa and they are the first district to grow this crop in the Highlands,” Essy said.

Source: The National PNG

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Outspan pays out K325,000 to Mamose growers

OUTSPAN PNG Ltd has rewarded cocoa growers in Mamose with incentives totalling K325,000 through its Rainforest Alliance incentive payout programme.
Farmers in Yangoru and Angoram, East Sepik, received K125,000 while those in Madang received K90,000 and Markham in Morobe K110, 000.

The premium payments were determined by volumes supplied through various sustainability programmes aimed at improving crop yields, quality and farmer livelihoods.
East Sepik Cocoa Board regional manager Daryll Worimo Wobar acknowledged Outspan’s efforts.

He said it added value by bringing buyers directly to farms on a regular basis to understand more about how cocoa was grown in the country.
Wobar said no other export business had implemented such projects like Outspan with its unwavering approach to directly invest in farmers that supply cocoa beans.
National Agriculture Quarantine Inspection Authority regional manager Sophie Numbuk was impressed to witness cocoa farmers receive additional incentives for their efforts in cocoa.

She said there was an increasing market interest for quality PNG cocoa beans due to the unique flavor.

Numbuk encouraged farmers to continue applying best practices to meet future demand.

In Madang, 250 farmers were rewarded on Thursday.

Division of primary industry assistant director Godfreid Savi said there was no better example of working in partnership than what Outspan was undertaking in Madang.

He said the approach between Outspan and farmers, involving various stakeholders, was reaping rewards in the development of cocoa Industry in country.

Savi said farmers’ efforts to boost cocoa production in Madang resulted in K61 million being paid to them in 2018 compare to K40 million in 2017.

He said the Outspan and Rainforest Alliance programme demonstrated real passion and true heart for cocoa farmers.

The company also conducts cocoa sustainability projects in East Sepik, Madang, Morobe and East New Britain in conjunction with international chocolate companies Mars, Lindt and Puratos.

The programmes aim to improve farmers’ livelihoods by providing free training support, tools, seedling distribution, market access support and reward programmes.

Source: The National PNG

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Papua butuh tenaga ahli kelola sumber daya alam

Gubernur Papua, Lukas Enembe – Jubi.Dok

Jayapura, Jubi – Gubernur Papua, Lukas Enembe mengatakan provinsi yang diPapua saat ini membutuhkan tenaga ahli untuk mengembangkan dan memanfaatkan potensi-potensi lokal, seperti Sagu dan Kopi.

“Sagu dan Kopi Papua kualitasnya sangat baik, hanya saja belum dikembangkan dan dikelola secara baik untuk kemudian diekspor keluar, jadi kami butuh pemikir-pemikir yang handal di bidang ini,” kata Enembe kepada wartawan, di Jayapura belum lama ini.

Ia menilai, Sumber Daya Manusia (SDM) Papua belum mampu mengelola potensi yang ada . Oleh karena itu, butuh orang-orang yang memiliki keahlian mengelola sumber daya alam dengan baik.

“Makanya saya terus dorong sektor ekonomi untuk kesejahteraan masyarakat Papua, sehingga seluruh potensi yang ada ke depan bisa dikelola orang Papua sendiri,” ujarnya.

Sekretaris Jenderal Dewan Ketahanan Nasional, Mayjen TNI Doni Monardo mengatakan Kopi Papua asal Tiom, Kabupaten Lanny Jaya menjadi salah satu kopi termahal dengan harga jual Rp5.3 juta per kilo.

Apalagi kata ia, sisa-sisa kopi sepeninggalan Hindia-Belanda di wilayah Pegunungan Tengah Papua masih sangat banyak, sehingga perlu dikelola dan dikembangkan karena kualitas Kopi asal Papua sangat baik.

“Mudah-mudahan dengan adanya kerjasama dengan pemerintah provinsi, kabupaten, kota, kepala suku, Ondoafi dan pihak lainnya di Papua, produksi Indonesia makin banyak karena lahan di Papua memungkinkan untuk dikembangkan,” kata Doni.

Untuk itu, ujar ia, pihaknya akan mengirim tim ke Kabupaten Keerom, Papua untuk melakukan penelitian dan penjajakan, dengan harapan bisa membuka industri perkebunan Kopi.

“Intinya, kami berencana akan membuka industri kopi di Papua dan Papua Barat, karena kualitas Kopi Papua terbaik,” ujarnya. (*)

Floriculture women get K1500 to help with training

Floriculture women get K1500 to help with training

THE Department of Agriculture and Livestock gave K1500 to the Floriculture Association during their mini exhibition in Port Moresby recently.
Cecilia Kagena, the director of agriculture education and training, said the fund was to help training for women in micro business.

Kagena said it would involve how to register and attain an Investment Promotion Authority business certificate, how to fill Internal Revenue Commission forms, and financial literacy training.

Margaret Ufa, owner of the Sogeri Tropical Plants and Blooms, said her newly registered business was yet to get orders or make contacts with clients.
Ufa encouraged the floriculture group at Sogeri to prepare fresh-cut flowers, foliage and provide floral arrangement during events.

Ufa said she was looking for clients for her pot plants.

Narie Pokupak, vice-president of the Saint Charles Lwanga Parish mothers group at Gerehu, said they were mostly widows and unemployed mothers.
“We are proud to make billum, necklaces and crafts but have no venues to sell them. This exhibition is an opportunity for us,” Pokupak said.

“Our group has women from the Highlands, Niugini Islands, Momase and Southern region.

“The bilum comes from various places as well necklaces, earrings, bands and others.”

Source: https://www.thenational.com.pg/

50 pekerja kelapa sawit yang di PHK meminta penjelasan perusahaan

Pekerja kelapa sawit di Lereh yang di PHK oleh pihak perusahaan ketika meminta kejelasan pemutusan kontrak kerja kepada pemilik perusahaan – Jubi/Agus Pabika

Jayapura, Jubi – Sejumlah pekerja kelapa sawit PT Sadrindo Jaya Argo Palma di Nuri, meminta kejelasan atas pemberian surat PHK (Pemutusan Hubungan Kerja) secara sepihak oleh perusahaan kepada 50 pekerja pada Kamis (28/6/2018) lalu, yang dianggap sangat merugikan para pekerja.

Koordinator perwakilan pekerja Tupelius Payokwa mengatakan, awalnya dirinya dan pekerja lain yang bekerja di loading TBS (Tandan Buah  Segar) dipanggil ke kantor untuk diberikan uang yang mereka sendiri tidak tahu kegunaan uang tersebut.

“Tanpa penjelasan yang pasti kami semua yang kira-kira mencapai 70 orang berkumpul untuk mendapatkan uang (pesangon) tapi sebelum kami mengambil uang kami sempat disuruh tanda tangan di atas materai Rp6000 dan surat yang kami tandatangani itu adalah surat penghentian kerja yang kami tidak baca dan besoknya kami kembali untuk kerja ternyata nama  kami sudah di PHK,”

ujarnya Jumat (13/7/2018).

Tupelius juga mengaku bingung. Karena tidak ada satupun kesalahan yang dilakukan mereka saat bekerja, dan tiba-tiba saja dilakukan pemecatan.

“Saya tidak tahu kenapa tiba-tiba dapat uang karena selesai pemilihan saya pikir saja mungkin ini uang yang dong bagi saja karena kita sudah ikut pemilihan gubernur, kita semua kumpul, dong (orang itu) langsung panggil nama satu-satu maju dan  tanda tangan baru dong bagi uang tapi sa (saya) agak bingung karena dong pu (punya) kertas tu ada materai dan yang dong kasi ke kami tu tanpa materai, yang kita permasalahkan di sini kenapa tidak ada penjelasan?”

katanya.

Sementara itu, Logo Jikwa satu diantara pekerja yang ikut di-PHK mengaku kesal dan tidak tahu titik permulaan pemecatan sepihak ini.

“Memangnya kami lakukan kesalahan apa? Trek kami curi ? Ban, mobil, bensin atau alat apa yang kami ambil sampai mereka buat kita kayak begini?” ungkapnya kesal.

Dari Informasi yang diterima Jubi, korban PHK Cendrawasih sebanyak 20 orang dialihkan pekerjaannya ke Sinar Mas Nimboran dan Arso, namun untuk yang dari kawasan Nuri, 50 orangnya benar-benar di-PHK.

Sebelum kejadian, Bupati Jayapura Matius Awaitow berkunjung ke Lereh dan sempat melakukan musyawarah dengan RT/RW dan Manager PT Sadrindo Jaya Argo Palma. Namun bukannya mendapatkan titik temu, 50 pekerja tersebut tetap di PHK hingga saat ini. (*)