Men and women in Ragiampun Village in the Umi Local Level Government (LLG) area in the Morobe province, have come together to prepare their land for a new cocoa project supported by the South Pacific Institute for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (SPISARD).

Villagers cleared overgrown grass and rehabilitated old cocoa garden sites ahead of the arrival of cocoa seedlings. The project is expected to benefit both Ragiampun and neighbouring Tumua Village.

The program is implemented through the Papua New Guinea University of Technology in Lae, which houses SPISARD. The institute provides farmers with technical support on cocoa planting, farm management and sustainable agriculture practices.

Women’s leader Susan Sima said the community is excited about the opportunity to revive cocoa farming.

“This project will help us earn income and support our families,” she said.

The community is now waiting for the cocoa seedlings so planting can begin.