Madang Governor Hon Ramsey Pariwa has taken a bold step to support the only nickel and cobalt mine in his province with funding support to continue the mines ongoing work to introduce cocoa nursery seed banks setup.
Early this month, Madang Province officially witnessed the launching of the first largest Cocoa Seed Nursery Bank site in the province and also the rest of Papua New Guinea. A majority of the project investment source comes from Ramu NiCo Management (MCC) Limited and its Community Development Fund.
To ensure the success of this project, related four Landowner Associations at Bauri Village provide strong active support to the Cocoa Seed Bank Project. Madang Government, Ramu NiCo and LOAs will work together closely to bring long-term income earning ability to project-impacted area people.
RNML also provided the technical support with Madang Provincial Government and Cocoa Board.
This was Ramu NiCo’s ongoing effort to promote agricultural activity and economic activity along its project corridor.
Midst the program, Madang Governor announced a financial support to back-up Ramu NiCo’s 4 LOA and the Nickel Project developer with Hundred Thousand Kina (K100, 000.00) to support similar cocoa seed nursery programs for the mine.
The governor announced that his office was pleased to collaborate with Ramu NiCo and its project LOA and rollout cocoa nursery seed bank that will supply communities in the province with young cocoa trees that can yield fertile pods and produce good cocoa bean.
“I have seen Ramu NiCo and its Project LOA building classrooms, teacher’s house, Medical Aid posts, assisting with medical drug supply and other programs working closely with its 4 landowner associations. Now I also want to build that understanding with the investor to establish agricultural programs especially cocoa seed nursery bank projects under Ramu NiCo’s expertise in my province,” the governor said.
“Ramu NiCo is the biggest investment in my province, Madang Province. Without its active support, the 4 Project Landowner Association wouldn’t exist and programs like this will not happen, therefore I also want to take this time to thank Metallurgical Corporation of China Limited ( MCC ) and China Minmetals for choosing Madang Province to invest.
The outcome of this project is seen and constantly displayed through the media on its social and corporate responsibility that reduces my office’s stress in the two districts (Usino Bundi and Raicoast District): thus, giving me ample time to focus more into the other 4 districts in the province with vital community programs.
I am happy to also find out that this is a win-win program for Madang Province’s future venturing into agriculture with a recently signed MOU with the proper regulators of Cocoa in Papua New Guinea (Cocoa Board PNG) and Ramu NiCo in 2025. ”
Programs like this will leave a lasting impact to communities in the rural area to work their land and gain income that will also bring stability to farmers apart from depending too much on the government.
“We are very happy to have Madang Provincial Government taking the bold step to also step-in to support renewable sector which is agriculture program that Ramu NiCo and its 4 landowner association is currently doing together,” Mr Kuipa said.
Ramu NiCo has also introduced other trial agricultural cash crop programs such as the cultivation of Juncao in its Kurumbukari Mine site in 2024 and a trial cultivation of Kava in 2023 -2024 and Ramu NiCo is still trying more projects.
The mine and its Project Land Owners Association have also been continuing to support its local Coconut Growers to harvest Copra along its project site in Basamuk Refinery along farmers along Saidor LLG with building materials for Copra Fermenters and tractors to transporting Copra and Coconut for economic activities and this has been a continues program every year.
Now with Madang Provincial Governments involvement in the agricultural vision and mission of the mine to help and promote sustainable industry in agriculture for local villagers to benefit will boost the mines ongoing effort to promote cocoa program along its project corridor in Usino Bundi District and Raicoast District.
