First of 170 ventilated storage facilities for cocoa and vanilla takes shape to protect bean quality and boost farmer returns

Wewak, Papua New Guinea – In an ongoing effort to further improve the quality of cocoa and vanilla in the Greater Sepik region of Papua New Guinea, and to strengthen marketing by local farmers and agribusinesses for higher returns, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), through the EU-STREIT PNG Programme, is setting up 170 steel, ventilated storage facilities for active and productive agribusiness and farmer cooperatives supported by the Programme.

These are specialized, dry and well-ventilated storage facilities designed to protect cocoa beans from moisture, pests and mold. Inside the facilities, beans can be stored in bags, kept on pallets, and stacked up to five meters. Each unit can handle 30 tonnes, and the facilities can be solar powered for ventilation and monitoring.

Training has commenced at two farming sites in Wewak District, East Sepik Province, to erect the first two 9m x 7m prefabricated storage facilities, with one completed this week.

A high-level official representing the European Union Delegation in PNG, Ms Monica Vazquez-Pablo, who was checking on the Programme-supported rehabilitation of transport and marketing infrastructure in East Sepik Province, took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the first storage facility in Saure Village under Wilmom Agro Farming. Ms Pablo also shared with the agribusiness chairman, Wilfred Mombiang, how the storage facility can be managed effectively to preserve quality beans that can be sold at an attractive price.

Mr Mombiang said they’re now set to buy wet beans from farmers for processing in their fermentary, and will utilize the facility to stockpile their dried bean bags in good condition for sale.

Acting EU-STREIT Programme Coordinator, Dr Rabi Rasaily, explained that the Programme will support 170 benefiting agribusiness and farmer cooperatives, including Wilmom Agro Farming, with the development of a business plan to support profitable use of these facilities.

The Wilmom cocoa and vanilla group was recently supported with a fermentary set-up as well, where dried beans will be moved into the new storage facility. Earlier, 40,000 cloned cocoa seedlings and disease-free vanilla cuttings were distributed to the farmers, which are beginning to bear pods and beans.

A local contractor is engaged for the installation of the prefabricated storage facilities project. Youths are being trained to erect these facilities and are now working on the second storage facility in Mandi Village, before full roll-out commences across the remaining 168 cocoa-vanilla sites in the Sepik region.

This support is part of the EU-STREIT PNG Programme’s wider work to strengthen the cocoa and vanilla value chain from production to market. Alongside improved planting materials and fermentary set-ups, the Programme is helping farmer groups improve post-harvest handling, drying and safe storage, so quality beans can be aggregated, preserved and sold at better prices through group marketing. Business planning support is also being provided to help cooperatives use these facilities profitably.

About the EU-STREIT PNG Programme 

The EU-STREIT PNG Programme is the European Union’s largest grant-funded initiative under the EU Global Gateway Strategy in Papua New Guinea. It is implemented as a United Nations Joint Programme led by FAO in partnership with ILO, ITU, UNCDF and UNDP. It focuses on boosting sustainable, inclusive rural development by enhancing returns and opportunities in the cocoa, vanilla and fisheries value chains (FAO). It also strengthens key enablers: digital inclusion (ITU and FAO), digital financial services (UNCDF), sustainable, climate-resilient transport infrastructure (ILO), and renewable-energy solutions (UNDP and FAO). The Programme directly benefits the East and West Sepik Provinces.

Cocoa

Vanilla