COCOA farmers in Lihir Island have been recognised at the national level after their sample was among the 59 which made the finals from the 377 entries nationwide.
A sample from the Jungle Boy fermentary in the Nimamar local level government, New Ireland was selected for the National Cocoa Excellence Show and Trade Expo in Wewak.
It was selected following a flavour pre-judging event held at the Queen Emma Chocolate Company in Port Moresby in early March.
Of the 377 samples from various provinces, only 59 made the finals. The Lihir sample was among them.
Nimamar Special Purpose Authority manager Raymond Winaulin commended the farmers for their dedication, saying their progress in recent years had been remarkable.
Winaulin said their efforts in the past two years had proved to be among the best in the New Guinea Islands region and the country.
He said as farmers continued to grow and represent the province at the national stage, support from the provincial government was needed to sustain that momentum.
Winaulin said the increase of the number of active farmers to 137 on the island was a result of the Integrated Agriculture Training Program (IATP), which began on the island in 2019 in partnership with the University of Natural Resources and Environment (UNRE).
Agriculture and Fisheries committee chairman for the Tumbawinlam Assembly, Robert Huonanayal, said the programme had kindled farmer interest and lifted the quality of cocoa produced.
The final rankings of the 59 finalists would be announced at the Prince Charles Oval in Wewak.
