Pacific

PNG coconut farmers encouraged to up production

10:10 am on 30 September 2019

The Papua New Guinea Government believes the country's coconut producers should look to the huge unmet demand around the world for organic coconut and coconut derived products.

PNG's first Coconut Festival got underway on Saturday in Port Moresby, with speeches from the Deputy Prime Minister, Davis Steven, and the National Planning Minister, Sam Basil.

The event brought together coconut farmers and companies from all over PNG and nearby Solomon Islands.

Mr Basil told the festival that there's an unmet demand of 90 percent for coconut products and he said PNG producers should respond to this.

"The potential niche market for organic coconut products is further incentive for growing coconut and processing coconut products, given that all Papua New Guinea coconut is organically grown. It seems to me the market is ready for PNG to increase its supply."

One of the stalls at the PNG Coconut Festival Photo: RNZ Pacific/Melvin Levongo