JEMS Cocoa Exporters Enterprise yesterday handed over farming tools to the the Pitukoli Cocoa Farmers Association.

The enterprise is a locally registered company and a main buyer of dried cocoa beans and a recipient of World Bank’s funded rural development programme (RDP) and Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock project.

The company will carry out this three year project in partnership with the Pitukoli Cocoa Farmers Association.

Another local enterprise by the name of Totogi Enterprises is a registered exporter and co-partner in this project.

The project aims to address problems of low farm productivity, sub-standard qualities in post-harvest processing and lack of financial literacy in financial management of earnings from cocoa.

The project coordinator, Mr Tony Matelaomao actively spoke about the project. He said that rehabilitation work with smallholder cocoa plantations in Pitukoli area will be conducted once the farmer’s association receive the farming tools.

Mr Matelaomao said that this is a need, because farmers have experienced reducing yields over the years.

He added that the rehabilitation process is aimed at increasing farm productivity, a serious matter which throughout the years was undermined by a number of factors.

“One of the major factors is trees have grown too old to bear optimum yields. Other factors include pests and diseases as well as farm negligence due to unattractive prices of the commodity,” he said.

Managing Director of JEMS, Mr Solomon Sedo said that he is excited by the prospects and potentials of the project in giving back to farmers.

“This is a welcomed project we as a community have received to support the industry and we look forward to it’s implementation and the benefits the farmers will be getting,” he said.

Mr Eddie Veloa, the Director of JEMS and Vice president of the Pitukoli Cocoa Famer’s Association was just as excited.

He mentioned that cocoa has been around for some time now and it is what many people depend on a daily basis.

“Cocoa has been around for some time now and our generation depended much on it for our livelihoods. Our children’s education and health costs are made easier with cocoa,” he said.

Mr Veloa was also concerned about the future of the cocoa industry for his community. He mentioned that if there is no intervention from areas such as the Agribusiness Partnership, their dependence on cocoa will be challenging.

He, however was very appreciative of this new project.

“We are happy that RDP/MAL has supported us and this is very motivating. We are grateful,” he said.

Mr Max Luba Totogi, the Company Director of Totogi Enterprises also welcomed the project.

“We look forward to supporting the project as it features a potential win/win situation for both the farmers and the business. It is a practical partnership arrangement which if implemented actively will help not only the farmers, but the cocoa industry in the country,” he said.

Speaking to the paper yesterday, the project coordinator Mr Tony Matelaomao said that farmers benefit greatly from their partnership with JEMS Cocoa Exporters Enterprise because it is from cocoa that women are able to support their children’s education, be able to afford medical help and improve the wellbeing of their homes.

He also added that JEMS Cocoa Exporters Enterprise also purchase cocoa from other provinces namely; Makira, Choiseul and Vella La Vella as the latest supplier of cocoa to engage in the cocoa business with the local Enterprises.