The Mineral Resources Development Company (MRDC) has expanded its Omati Cocoa Project from Kikori in the Gulf Province to Gobe in the Southern Highlands Province in Papua New Guinea, reinforcing its commitment to building sustainable economies beyond the life of oil and gas resource extraction.
In May, more than 2,000 high-quality hybrid cocoa seedlings were transported from Omati to Gobe, MRDC said. The seedlings were distributed across several communities in the Gobe Oil Project area, including Kaiam 1 and 2, Kaiam Ferry, Done, Siawiti, Waterfront, Baina, and Kantobo, targeting regions with strong agricultural potential.
Augustine Mano, Managing Director of MRDC, emphasised the strategy of the agricultural program, saying: "Our investment in the Omati Cocoa Project and its expansion to Gobe reflects our community investment commitment to our project communities."
"We understand that sustainable economic development must look beyond resource extraction. By fostering agricultural enterprises, centred on high-value crops like cocoa, we are helping communities with the tools and resources for self-sufficiency and building a resilient future."
The Omati Cocoa Project, launched in 2022 with a K1 million investment by MRDC through the PNG LNG Pipeline Limited board, is spearheaded in partnership with its subsidiary Gas Resources Pipeline Limited (GRPL).
The project has grown from its humble beginnings, originally stocking 1,000 cocoa seeds from East New Britain into a major propagation center with a current capacity of 50,000 seedlings. Plans are underway to double this capacity to 100,000.
A three-year development period saw 18 cocoa varieties evaluated for yield potential, disease resistance, and suitability to local conditions.
The project achieved a significant milestone in 2024 when it was officially certified by the Cocoa Board of PNG, meeting national quality and operational standards. Technical collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL) ensures farmers continue receiving agronomic guidance and extension services.
In Kikori, the project has already seen a substantial uptake, with more than 85,000 seedlings distributed to about 500 farmers.
Mr. Wauro Oumabe, PNG LNG Pipeline Ltd Director for Segment Seven in Kikori, outlined the local impact, saying: "Approximately 500 farmers are now actively engaged in cocoa cultivation in Kikori, each receiving quality seedlings and support.”
“The positive response and the evident success have fuelled demand, leading to this expansion to Gobe. We anticipate further interest as communities witness the benefits of high-quality cocoa farming."
Oumabe also pointed to cocoa's financial promise amid rising global prices.
“In areas like ours, reliable income is essential for covering school fees, healthcare, and other basic necessities. The rising global market price for cocoa has further enhanced its appeal as a viable cash crop, capable of transforming local economies if grown to quality standards."
"A comprehensive five-year development plan has been submitted to MRDC. A key feature of this plan is the proposed establishment of a processing facility. Our aim is to empower communities to move up the value chain from merely selling raw beans to producing processed cocoa, thereby retaining more value locally,” he said.
“Such a facility would not only improve post-harvest handling and quality control but also create new employment opportunities, skills development in processing and grading, and open avenues for niche marketing of regionally branded cocoa products. This aligns with broader national goals of increasing domestic value-addition in the agricultural sector,” Oumabe added.
The Gobe rollout is being met with strong grassroots support. Mr. Matthew Sisimolu, Chairman of Petroleum Resources Gobe (PRG), a key landowner company supported by MRDC, welcomed the initiative as a practical path forward.
"My primary objective as a leader is to steer our communities towards sustainable agricultural development as a primary economic driver," said Mr. Sisimolu. "This cocoa project is a practical and promising pathway for our landowning communities."
Sisimolu personally contributed K6,000 toward the cost of acquiring and transporting the seedlings from Omati to Gobe.
One of the project’s major appeals is its ability to generate consistent, renewable income independent of fluctuating resource project dividends.
Mrs. Kila Oumabe, a prominent figure in farmer mobilisation and training in Omati, particularly among women, highlighted the significance of this shift.
"Revenue from resource projects has a lifespan. Cocoa, however, is a perennial crop; it offers a sustainable income stream that can support families year after year,” she said.
"Access to consistent income from cash crops like cocoa directly impacts household food security and the ability to invest in education and health. For many women and marginalized households, who may have limited access to benefits from larger resource projects, cultivating their own cocoa plots offers a direct pathway to improved livelihoods.
“The initial nursery establishment saw a significant contribution from local women, who recognised the long-term potential of cocoa,” she added.
