Miner Miner Edition 20.indd - Morobe Mining Joint Venture

Lower Watut farmers get fermentries
More than 2,000 rural cocoa farmers in Lower Watut of
Morobe Province are now able to produce higher quality
beans with the commissioning of fi ve new fermentery facilities.
Farmers from Lower Watut, representatives from Morobe
Mining Joint Ventures (MMJV) and Huon district government
offi cials celebrated this achievement in June by opening the
fi fth fermentery at Mafanazo Village, signalling the completion
of the fi rst lot of facilities.
MMJV has seen the need for sustainable development in
the area and for that reason continues to not only encourage
but provide capacity to locals.
One such these sustainable ventures is cocoa farming and
fermentation which is evidently an agricultural gold mine for
the Watut people.
MMJV’s Community & Regional Development Manager,
Benjamin Kamaya, Wafi -Golpu’s Community Aff airs Manager,
Rolland Allbrook, and landowner’s representative, Nawae Boga
encouraged the farmers to work together to develop quality
cocoa.
Mr Kamaya and Mr Allbrook said MMJV was committed to
working closely with the government and other development
partners to promote agriculture as a sustainable resource for
the province.
HVJV provided a funding of K45,000 for the installation of
the three fermentery and an addition support of K35,000 in
logistics and materials for fermentation boxes and sheds for all
fi ve fermentries.
Huon district provided K50,000 from their JDPBC for two
Malangta Primary School receives new double classroom
Malangta Primary School students in Bulolo district had
every reason to celebrate when they opened their new
two-storey double classroom on June 22.
For years the students endured run-down facilities and
overcrowding issues but that all ended when HVJV built the
double story – double classroom at a cost of K354,000 in
support of the Bulolo District Education Plan.
Provincial and district offi cials, Hidden Valley
representatives, Malangta teachers, students and the local
community all came together on the day to celebrate the
opening.
MMJV’s Community & Regional Development Manager,
Benjamin Kamaya, said the education program was focused on
building capacity in the district.
District Education Coordinator, John Tsipet thanked HVJV
for the infrastructure support over the past two years. He said
the company had projects all around Bulolo District delivering
long term benefi ts to the people.
Mr Tsipet urged parents and guardians to ensure their
children attended school and got the education they deserved
for their future development.
Government, school and village representatives urged the
students to look after the facilities.
CELEBRATING ACHIEVEMENTS: Locals celebrate the
opening of the fi fth fermentery ( in the background)
at Mafanazo village.
fermentries and a 30 horsepower motor engine for the farmers
to transport their cocoa downriver by dugout canoes.
The event also saw the offi cial launch of the Lower Watut
Cocoa Farmers Cooperative Society, a strategic step forward
for farmers as they push to crack bigger markets.
The farmers span across 14 villages of Lower Watut and
through these initiatives, they aim to yield improved cocoa
varieties and extend their marketing supply chain.
EXCITEMENT ALL AROUND: Students and villagers
take a look at the new classroom.
The double classroom was funded under HVJV’s 5-year
Community & Regional Development Plan which focuses on
education, health, agriculture and infrastructure.
www.morobejv.com