CEMA urges farmers to produce quality cocoa beans

By Alfred Pagepitu

The Commodities Export Marketing Authority (CEMA) urges farmers to produce quality cocoa beans and not to resell rejected cocoa beans to other buyers who are licensed to export quality cocoa.

CEMA’s Operations and Outstation Division Manager, George Tuki, reminds farmers that reselling rejected beans is not allowed.

“Farmers, you have been urged not to resell cocoa dry beans to other buyers once they have been rejected by CEMA.”

“If you bypass CEMA and then go to other buyers who are licensed to export cocoa in the country, that is not the right way to do it.”

“This is because if you do that and CEMA finds out, we have the power to terminate your license, especially those who accept the rejected cocoa dry beans for export,” Tuki said.

CEMA will continue to monitor the cocoa beans from local farmers in the provinces and even in Honiara to maintain the quality of products for export.

It will not tolerate anyone who will resell rejected cocoa so that quality cocoa is produced for export.

“So if we are not properly fermenting and grading our cocoa beans, the result can show how well we have produced our dry beans.”

Tuki also encouraged farmers to do their own inspection and grading before selling their product and to work closely with the CEMA team to produce quality cocoa beans.

Seeking assistance from CEMA staff at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) Divisions in the provinces is encouraged.

“For the province of Malaita, especially, CEMA has its office at Malu’u, and we understand that Malu’u is quite far from other parts of Malaita, but you can contact the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock for further information.”

Those in the Makira province can also check with MAL officers and seek advice so that they can assist with further information.

Tuki said other provinces without buying centers like Western, Temotu, Isabel, and other provinces rely heavily on MAL staff in the provincial headquarters to provide them information.

“We will continue working closely with all our officers and you, the farmers in the country, to produce quality cocoa,” Tuki said.

For farmers who have already been trained, CEMA has the confidence in them to help advise other farmers to grade their cocoa before going to the market.

Meanwhile quality is very important and it all starts in the field, from harvesting to fermentation and drying.

CEMA does not have the time to observe all the farmers, but hope and trust that all the farmers can produce good-quality cocoa.

CEMA is committed to upholding the reputation of the country’s cocoa exports.

ENDS///