The International Trade Centre (ITC) and the Pacific Community (SPC), in partnership with Kokonas Indastri Koporesen (KIK), are proud to announce the commissioning of a coconut nursery in Pinu village, located in the Kairuku District of Central Province, approximately two hours' drive west of Port Moresby.
This initiative is part of the European-Union-funded Business-Friendly Programme, jointly implemented by the trio to support the coconut industry in PNG by providing farmers with vital access to healthy, high-yield planting materials.
Held at the Pinu Primary School, the commissioning ceremony was attended by key stakeholders including representatives from ITC, SPC, and KIK, as well as coconut farmers from the surrounding areas.
In his address, KIK Managing Director, Mr Alan Aku emphasised the importance of the nursery in supporting the local coconut industry and enhancing the livelihoods of farmers.
"The establishment of this nursery is a significant step towards achieving our goal of a sustainable and prosperous coconut industry in Papua New Guinea. By providing farmers with access to high-quality planting materials, we are empowering them to improve their productivity and income," said Mr Aku.
SPC Project Implementation Officer Mr Lagi Fisher said the new coconut nursery is designed to produce 10,000 seedlings every three months, ensuring a continuous supply of high-quality seedlings to local farmers.
“With the capacity to supply high-quality coconut planting material for up to 200 hectares per year, this nursery is crucial for enhancing the productivity and sustainability of the coconut value chain in Papua New Guinea,” said Mr Fisher.
The purpose of using the school to establish the nursery is to have the students learn agricultural skills in establishing and maintaining a nursery. Once the seedlings are ready for planting, the students will be able to take them and plant them on their family lands, as an initiative to build the next generation of farmers for the future.
Key Benefits of the nursery include:
- Enhanced Access to Quality Planting Materials: The nursery will provide farmers/ students with reliable access to disease-resistant, high-yield coconut seedlings, crucial for improving overall crop quality and yield.
- Support for Sustainable Agriculture: By supplying high-quality seedlings, the nursery will contribute to sustainable agricultural practices, ensuring that farmers/ students can cultivate coconuts more efficiently and sustainably.
- Economic Growth: The increased productivity from higher-yield coconut plants will boost the income of smallholder farmers, contributing to the economic development of the region.
- Capacity Building: The nursery will serve as a training hub for students and farmers around the Pinu vicinity, offering hands-on experience and technical knowledge on best practices in coconut farming.
The new nursery is the first of four that will be supported by the ACP-Business-Friendly Programme by the end of 2024. These nurseries will collectively play a vital role in strengthening the coconut value chain in Papua New Guinea through innovative projects and collaborations.
About Kokonas Indastri Koporesen (KIK)
KIK is the principal statutory institution overseeing the policy and regulatory dimensions for Papua New Guinea’s coconut industry. https://www.kik.com.pg/
KIK has been implementing Coconut Replanting Programmes in PNG since 2016 to address the issue of ageing and senile coconut palms and has established community-managed coconut nurseries to supply quality coconut planting material to farmers, as well as introduced Coconut Downstream Processing to produce high-value coconut products like Virgin Coconut Oil, soap, cosmetic products, charcoal, and desiccated coconut. This initiative aims to add value to the economic potential of coconuts.
The programme's goals include replacing senile (ageing) coconut trees, intercropping with other cash crops, combatting climate change, enhancing food security, providing free seedlings to increase production, mobilising and rehabilitating land, and introducing new farming technologies.
