Giving hope to youths in rural communities
11 Aug 2025
A government-supported initiative is transforming lives in rural Papua New Guinea, bringing hope and opportunity to communities through agriculture. The PACD Cocoa Project, funded by the National Government and the World Bank, is making a significant impact across six provinces, with one standout success story emerging from East New Britain.
In a bold move to diversify income sources for farmers, the PNG Growers Association Inc. (GAI), in partnership with the Cocoa Board of PNG, has launched a poultry project under the PACD Cocoa umbrella. This marks the association’s first venture into livestock, a milestone that is reshaping the agricultural landscape and empowering local communities.
GAI Executive Manager Simon Arnold emphasized the importance of engaging youth in the initiative, particularly in areas grappling with rising law and order issues. “We are trying ways to combat social issues, especially here in ENB. It’s not as safe as it was 10 years ago,” Arnold said. “Redirecting youth into organized agricultural activities helps them participate meaningfully in the value chain.”
The poultry project has already cycled through 100 farmers, with operations now sustained by income generated from marketing efforts. At the heart of the initiative is a mini-abattoir established at Vimi Plantation in Kokopo District, where local youth are employed in various roles including security, carpentry, sanitation, and chicken processing.
Vimi, once a hotspot for crime and social unrest, is witnessing a remarkable transformation. Youth leader James, tasked by GAI to organize young workers at the facility, shared how the project has shifted mindsets and inspired positive change. “The facility has changed things—people’s thinking, social issues, and youth involvement in agriculture,” he said.
James leads the Tapak Youth Business Incorporated group, founded in 2018 but disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, under his leadership, a cluster of 10 youths is actively participating in the PACD-GAI poultry initiative. Their goal is ambitious: to ensure every household in Vimi has a poultry house, supported by the nearby abattoir which eliminates the need to seek external markets.
The PACD Cocoa Project is not just about cocoa—it’s about building sustainable livelihoods, fostering community resilience, and offering a pathway to a brighter future for Papua New Guinea’s rural youth.
In a bold move to diversify income sources for farmers, the PNG Growers Association Inc. (GAI), in partnership with the Cocoa Board of PNG, has launched a poultry project under the PACD Cocoa umbrella. This marks the association’s first venture into livestock, a milestone that is reshaping the agricultural landscape and empowering local communities.
GAI Executive Manager Simon Arnold emphasized the importance of engaging youth in the initiative, particularly in areas grappling with rising law and order issues. “We are trying ways to combat social issues, especially here in ENB. It’s not as safe as it was 10 years ago,” Arnold said. “Redirecting youth into organized agricultural activities helps them participate meaningfully in the value chain.”
The poultry project has already cycled through 100 farmers, with operations now sustained by income generated from marketing efforts. At the heart of the initiative is a mini-abattoir established at Vimi Plantation in Kokopo District, where local youth are employed in various roles including security, carpentry, sanitation, and chicken processing.
Vimi, once a hotspot for crime and social unrest, is witnessing a remarkable transformation. Youth leader James, tasked by GAI to organize young workers at the facility, shared how the project has shifted mindsets and inspired positive change. “The facility has changed things—people’s thinking, social issues, and youth involvement in agriculture,” he said.
James leads the Tapak Youth Business Incorporated group, founded in 2018 but disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, under his leadership, a cluster of 10 youths is actively participating in the PACD-GAI poultry initiative. Their goal is ambitious: to ensure every household in Vimi has a poultry house, supported by the nearby abattoir which eliminates the need to seek external markets.
The PACD Cocoa Project is not just about cocoa—it’s about building sustainable livelihoods, fostering community resilience, and offering a pathway to a brighter future for Papua New Guinea’s rural youth.
