BY DOUGLAS VAHIA
For copra and cocoa farmers in parts of West Makira, Wahi’a village is their crown jewel because that is where they earn their livelihood.
In Wahi’a village, there is Job Alick Waru, a trusted cocoa and copra agent who stays ready to buy copra and cocoa from farmers.
He then brings his bags of copra and cocoa to Commodities Export Marketing Authority (CEMA) to sell.
Waru said he’s content to contribute to the export volumes of CEMA.
Recalling his earlier years as an agent, he said to become a CEMA agent, he had to go through a process set by CEMA.
Among the criteria, a prospective agent must be consistent in supplying copra and cocoa to CEMA and Waru had proved to be a consistent supplier for over a period of time.
In 2023, CEMA certified Waru as an agent and he was given a modest amount of money as imprest to complement his buying power at Wahi’a village.
Since then, Waru has been supplying 60-70 bags of copra per month and 20-30 bags a month of cocoa, all to CEMA.
When asked why he chose to sell to CEMA when there are other competitive buyers out there, Waru said he chose to sell to CEMA because he wants to invest in a government-owned entity.
Prior to becoming an agent, Waru was a copra and cocoa farmer himself and he decided to abandon tilling his plantations because they were aging and he needed to replant his coconut and cocoa trees.
While waiting to revive his plantations, he decided to become an agent and buy cocoa and copra from other farmers.
Speaking of challenges, Waru said one is transportation as there are no roads to reach farmers who are further away on the other side of the island.
He added that a single outboard motor engine boat cannot transport all the cocoa and copra produce at once.
Henceforth, Waru urges CEMA to consider availing one of the two new short haul fast crafts to service the Makira Ulawa Province’s copra and cocoa farmers.
“We need it to travel to Ugi Island and the Weathercoast of Makira Ulawa Province,” he said.
Photo: Supplied
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