Cocoa another trending export produce for Samoa

Farmers in Samoa are beginning to get more varieties of crops to grow and export following on the heels of one local company that has realized the potential for cocoa.

Samoa's exports have been dominated by taro and other produce grown in the islands.

One produce that is silently making its way to the export table is cocoa – Samoan Koko - according to Lisa Karene the Executive Director of Noras Plantation Foods in Vaitele.

"We decided on the cocoa because it was easy to process, and from our market research it was one of the ‘trendier’ superfoods to put out there," she said.

Despite admitting to being late into the Australian market, Karene says they’ve seen a lot of growth in the demands due to high quality needs.

But it’s not the overseas market that makes this story interesting, it’s where the Samoan Koko comes from that has set Noras apart from other businesses.

"One of the best ways to do that is to provide a consistent local market for farmers so that they can earn a decent living off the land, thereby avoiding or reducing urbanisation which is a painful existence for the unemployed," said the exec.

The exporters are working with more 60 plantations in both Upolu and Savaii and Karene is looking at expanding the numbers.

"By using contract farming we ask the farmers to take care of the crops and we continue to buy from them to ensure a consistent production/supply to the market," she added.

"On the other hand during my visits to old koko plantations in Upolu I was told that they had plenty of crops but they did not have the manpower to pick them.  And with the bleak market for koko that they sell at the markets, they did not feel the need to keep growing new koko plants.

"Most crops ended up rotting on the trees or be taken by trespassers.  Savaii farmers gave a similar reason – that the market was too inconsistent. They were skeptical of foreign buyers who would turn up once every few years, take a load from one farmer and then leave without any firm commitment to return.

"Adding to their lack of income from the land, their families were still relying on overseas relatives for revenue as employment around Samoa was very low.

 

     

Author: 
Joshua Lafoai