In order to have a better society, start with the lives of each family first. To do this, empower them with programmes that can boost their economic independence.
Thus, said Kokopo MP Emil Tammur, who added that coconut and cocoa development programmes would grow the local economy so that families can earn. He added that the priority of the Kokopo development authority (DDA) board was to support the agricultural development programmes in the vicinity.
“Agriculture and farming is where the bulk of the population back in the ward levels are heavily involved in, therefore, our focus is to support the programmes that can help change our people’s livelihoods,” he said.
Tammur noted that it was the cocoa nursery farmers who implemented the agriculture programmes which the board had planned for. The relationship between these two sectors began in 2015 but stopped last year when the pandemic happened. The funds for the farmers were then redirected to the covid pandemic.
“We took the funds from these programmes to support our family members from the six wards in the Raluana LLG who were hit by the Covid-19 pandemic early last year, that is why most of the payments were delayed,” he said.
Tammur expressed his gratitude to Joan Magaga, officer-in-charge of the Kokopo rural development office, and her team for giving support to farmers. “We wouldn’t have come this far if not for the partnerships between all stakeholders,” he said.
