The RAMANGS COCOA DEVELOPMENT PROJECT in Papua New Guinea is a significant initiative aimed at revitalizing cocoa farming in the Greater Sepik Region, which has faced challenges such as pest infestations and lack of infrastructure. This project focuses on enhancing the cocoa value chain through various measures, including the establishment of cocoa nurseries, rehabilitation of cocoa blocks, and promotion of sustainable agricultural practices.
The project is part of a broader effort supported by partnerships between the EU-STREIT PNG Programme, the Cocoa Board, and the Provincial Division of Agriculture and Livestock. These collaborations aim to increase the profitability of cocoa farmers, improve market access, and ensure the involvement of women and youth in the cocoa value chain.
The initiative also addresses the economic and community development of rural areas by providing technical assistance, improving market linkages, and supporting local cooperatives. This holistic approach not only aims to boost cocoa production but also to empower local communities to participate actively in the economic growth of the region.
ASSOCIATE INFORMATIONS With Organisations
The Ramangs Cocoa Development Project meets all the FAO EU-STREIT Programme requirements and was registered under the FAO STREIT project in 2017. The RCDP engagement and participation is recognized as an active sub-implementing farming project and complies with the overall FAO EU-STREIT Programme structure and agriculture value chain policy in Wewak, East Sepik Province, PNG for 9 years. RCDP has an annual agribusiness value chain investment implementation work plan and log frame to assist its performance and targets achievement and work alignment with the FAO EU-STREIT Programme overall cocoa component targets and value chain officers and M&E team. Ramangs have worked associated with FAO STREIT Project to ensure cocoa farming as the pillar of development in the rural setups through; 1. Agriculture Entrepreneurship 2. Livelihood enrichment 3. Gender and Youth Empowerment and Participation 4. Food Security Promotion. Maintained effective communication dialogue and visited the FAO EU-STREIT PNG Programme office meeting with officers monthly and giving brief updates on achievements, challenges, and proposed areas of support. Liaise and collaborate with FAO EU-STREIT Programme key stakeholders and partners at the Provincial, District, and Local Level Government levels.
RCDP PILLARS
Ramangs Cocoa Development Project proposed implementation for Pillar 1. Agriculture Entrepreneurship, Pillar 2. Livelihood enrichment, Pillar 3. Gender and Youth Empowerment and Participation and Pillar 4. Food Security Promotion.
These are two innovative ideas implemented by the Ramangs Development Cocoa Project in the PNG context and it create an impact on the vanilla and cocoa value chain investment.
1. Bottom-up formation of women and youth development council engagement in agribusiness investment structured from Ward, LLG, District, Province, and National level. About 186 women and 306 youths their voice been heard and benefited from the structure implemented at the ward and LLG levels.
2. Establishment of agribusiness corporative structure and formation of cluster groups by small block holders, adds strong labour inputs and significant values by increasing cocoa production volume per month by 2 tonnes
IMPACT IN IMPROVING PEOPLES LIVE
1. About 710 small block holder (family household) farming shifted from traditional farming practices and invested meaningfully in commercial farming value for money in vanilla and cocoa projects.
2. Clone cocoa production saw significant increase in production from half tone to Three(3) tonnes. Opening up cashflow to farmers to afford to pay for their children's school fees, build family houses, medical bills, and meet other financial obligations.
3. About 45% of key youth leaders supported and actively engaged in agriculture investment projects resulting in lawlessness in society.
4. Provide banking agent service with FAO STREIT local partner Mibank to encourage saving culture and 103 farmers opening personal accounts.
HUNGER & NUTRITION
Ramangs Cocoa Development Project executives are actively involved and lead participation in the FAO STREIT programme at the local farming community, province, and country level including farmers' exposure and interaction program, working closely with the FAO value chain experts and relevant government agencies officers to improve and diversify income generation and sustainable food security system for farming families, participate with farmers and FAO local partners at world food day, youth international day, linking awareness down to farming communities on the importance for sustainability of food security and emphasis on family farming and women and youth participation at all food value chain.
The highlight impacts for the last 7 years of implementation contributed to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals.
The partnership program results 75% impact rural livelihood of more than 710 farming family households in Paliama, Passam #1,2,3, Kambogora, Pangaripma, Marik, Simbrangu, Hambraure, Numoiken, Urindogum Villages in Wewak Rural LLG, East Sepik Province. The visibility of tangible impact has seen an increase in family farming units with equal gender share of roles and responsibilities, active youth and women participation in both family farming consumption and income-generating projects that reduce poverty and hunger. About 340 family households have access to semi-permanent buildings and affordable and reliable modern energy and an increase 20% investment in affordable education by the farming communities. The resilient infrastructure road built by ILO is in good condition with local government and farming community support to create transport accessible to the rural farmers and encourage more families to participate in agribusiness and food value chain.