The Papua New Guinea Agriculture Commercialization and Diversification (PACD) has successfully hosted its 05th Project Steering Committee (PSC) on the 06th of November 2024 at National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI), Kerevat East New Britain province.

The meeting brough together 30 key stakeholders, including representatives from government agencies to review the progress of the project and plan for future actions.

The meeting was coordinated by the PACD project overseer in the country the Project Coordination Unit (PCU) based in Port Moresby purposely for the two Project Management Unit (PMU) Coffee Component and Cocoa Component presentation of their progress.

According to the PACD PCU Coordinator Jethro Apinias the meeting is an important event for the PSC to get updates of the two-project implementation progress on where they with the project, how much money they have spent, what are the results and ways forward.

“People want to know the project implementation now and towards the end what can you tell us how you use the money on what and give us the results. We must inform you our stakeholders and the wider public on the use of this money and how it is and will benefit our people in the rural communities,” said Mr Apinias.

Both cocoa and coffee PMUs have made a tremendous progress in their respective areas however a lot of areas and challenges have been identified in both of the PMUs. The two PMUS have been challenged to deliver the projects on time before December 2025.

The PACD project is funded through GoPNG loan funding from the World Bank. The Department of Agriculture and Livestock is responsible for the two project and the Cocoa Board of PNG as implementing agency, covering the Cocoa Component.