Cocoa and Vanilla Farmers in PNG to benefit from new Traceability System
A new system will open up opportunities for close to 1500 Papua New Guinean farming families to earn more for their high quality cocoa and vanilla exports.
Australian-supported Market Development Facility (MDF) signed a partnership with a leading cocoa and vanilla exporter, Elliven Limited, to support the development of a traceability mechanism for quality cocoa and vanilla supply chains and markets from the Morobe, Madang and East Sepik Provinces.
“With a comprehensive database of our farmer suppliers and a system for managing it, we can establish a supply chain of quality cocoa and vanilla where smallholders will earn more than what they are currently earning,” said Elliven’s Managing Director, Ron Neville.
In agriculture, traceability mechanisms are used to identify and understand the movement and handling of food supply through different stages – production, processing and distribution, until it reaches the consumer.
“Traceability is important in value chains, and with MDF’s support we hope to establish and improve PNG’s traceability systems to increase quality production in the agriculture sector,” MDF PNG Country Director Matthew Kanua said.
“Exporters are also able to work with producers to identify and fix gaps in their supply chain when there is a good traceability system in place, resulting in supply chain improvement and quality products,” he added.
PNG mostly exports cocoa and vanilla into bulk markets.
However, with a strong traceability system in place, Elliven can verify point of origin at farmer level and track the product through the entire supply chain, up to the end consumer.
This transparency would reinforce the integrity of PNG’s cocoa and vanilla among international buyers and consumers.
It will also encourage smallholders to produce quality, traceable cocoa and vanilla so that they can earn a better price.
MDF is a multi-country initiative supported by the Australian Government that promotes sustainable economic development, through higher incomes for women and men, in our partner countries.
In PNG, MDF focuses on different market systems within the agribusiness sector to improve quality production and supply domestically and at international markets.
Caption: MDF PNG and Elliven staff at the recent partnership signing in Madang.
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