25/09/2026
🌱 UNDP supports the PNG Government in developing new Cocoa Industry Strategic Plan! 🍫
A major milestone for Papua New Guinea’s cocoa sector was marked yesterday as the Government of Papua New Guinea launched its Cocoa Industry Strategic Plan 2026–2035 in Port Moresby.
The new plan provides a long-term roadmap to modernise PNG’s cocoa sector by moving towards sustainable, low-emission production systems, improving traceability and compliance with global market requirements, and promoting growth for smallholder farmers. 🌱👩🏾🌾👨🏾🌾
The strategy also places strong emphasis on creating opportunities for women and young people, strengthening value addition and agribusiness development, and promoting climate-smart technologies that can improve farmer incomes while reducing pressure on forests and biodiversity. 🌳
Through their joint GEF 7 programme, UNDP and CEPA helped integrate sustainable land use, biodiversity conservation, climate resilience and EUDR readiness into the strategy.
The strategy was launched by Minister of Agriculture Hon. John Boito, in the presence of Members of Parliament, senior representatives of the cocoa sector and the Government’s development partners.
📢 “Cocoa is truly our national crop. It is grown across all provinces and over 200,000 households depend on it daily. It pays school fees, funds healthcare, builds homes and provides a pathway to live with dignity. That is why the future of cocoa must remain an urgent national priority. This strategic plan serves as a roadmap to transform our rural economy, improve livelihoods and achieve our government’s broader agricultural goals,” the Minister said.
Speaking at the launch, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, Mr. Aadil Mansoor, emphasised the importance of ensuring the long-term sustainability of the industry:
📢 “The linkage between cocoa production and protected area management, forest conservation, and landscape integrity is critical. Sustainable cocoa development must go hand in hand with efforts to protect forests, conserve biodiversity, and maintain ecosystem services that underpin long-term productivity and resilience.
Moreover, CEPA’s National Project Director Ms Kay Kumaras Kalim highlighted the importance of connecting cocoa livelihoods with environmental protection:
📢 “We look at livelihoods as a crucial tool for maintaining protected areas, as our country consists of landowners. Failure to meet the standards is a real risk, including loss of market access, reduced competitiveness, and increased pressure on forests and biodiversity. Our aim is to have our biodiversity sustained in a manner that benefits communities. This strategic plan allows us to introduce those best land management practices, enabling farmers to till the same plots of land without cutting down any trees.”
Conservation and Environment Protection Authority Global Environment Facility
