A cocoa farmer, buyer and drier, Mr Mark Dau from Tawatana village, Arosi one of West Makira has sounded out the advice following a government announcement that cocoa exports have made millions of dollars towards the national economy.
Mr Dau said it is a welcome news to the cocoa farmers as “our efforts in farming and drying cocoa beans are helping the national economy”.
Therefore, he said cocoa farmers must ensure they harvest only the ripe fruits and not the unripe ones, adding wet cocoa bean driers, whether or not they use firewood or solar driers they must ensure the cocoa beans are properly dried.
Mr Dau added, West Makira Cocoa farmers, buyers and driers sell their dried cocoa beans in Honiara, adding this is the second warning he is giving to the Arosi cocoa farmers, the first time at the beginning of the year when Honiara cocoa buyers complained Makira cocoa farmers had harvested unripe cocoa beans which meant they failed to catch high grades.
- George Atkin
