Papua New Guinea smallholders produce cocoa to export standard (FAO and Paradise Foods Ltd)
In November 2020, FAO partnered with Paradise Foods Ltd, the oldest national food manufacturing company in Papua New Guinea, to jointly support smallholder farmers in sustainable cocoa production.
Cocoa is one of the most important cash crops in Papua New Guinea, and about 2 million people in the country depend on the crop for their livelihoods. Most of these farmers are poor and food insecure and have limited access to markets and services.
Paradise Foods Ltd and FAO are collaborating in the East and West Sepik provinces to support certification schemes for smallholder cocoa production that attest to the quality of the product for trade. This will help to increase the long-term marketability of local cocoa products and improve income generation.
Paradise Foods Ltd is the only company in Papua New Guinea that processes cocoa into a semi-finished product. It also has a line in manufacturing fine chocolates for both national and export markets. The company is committed to using exclusively smallholder-sourced raw materials, supporting inclusive agricultural and cocoa value-chain development in the country.
The partnership forms part of part of a joint project by the government, the European Union and United Nations agencies to support rural entrepreneurship, investment and trade in Papua New Guinea.
