While some people are still struggling to clear land and establish new cocoa plantations, Mr.
Barnabas Manetavua from Vatilau Village in Northeast Guadalcanal’s, Paripao Ward is now enjoying
the fruits of his labor, selling his sun-dried cocoa beans every week and earning significant income
from his cocoa project.
“I earn $1500 to $3500 every week selling 50kg to 40kg of my sun-dried cocoa beans to local buyers
in Honiara, with prices now reaching $52 to $55 per kilo,” Mr. Manetavua told ADRA Media in an
exclusive interview recently.
Barnabas Manetavua has married with seven children and numerous grandchildren, owns a 4-
hectare of cocoa plantation comprising four thousand Amelando and Trinitario varieties of cocoa
trees.
dryer shed. ADRA Media
Barnabas was a local cocoa farmer involved in cocoa production for many years. He participated in
numerous training sessions from different sectors including CEMA and was awarded a certificate
from CEMA for his cocoa IPDM and production.
Barnabas joined the ADRA Soul Cocoa Plus Project through a six-month livelihood program from the
Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Project in his village in 2022. During that year, the ADRA Soul Cocoa
Plus Project facilitated a three-day cocoa training workshop at Inus in Northeast Guadalcanal,
Paripao Ward for the surrounding communities, namely Inus, Vatilau, Dadae, Magia, and Capicha.
After completing the training, ADRA, through the Soul Cocoa Plus Project, supported each farmer
who attended the training with cocoa tools pruning sectors to kick start their cocoa projects.
Barnabas Manetavua was one of the recipients of this tool assistance, which helped him revive his
passion for planting new cocoa trees.
in front of the new sun-dryer cocoa shed. ADRA Media
With assistance from the DRR project, ADRA provided farmers, including Mr. Manetavua, with tools
for IPDM and conducted frequent follow-up visits to monitor their progress, offer additional
information, and provide advice. After the initial program ended, Barnabas remained dedicated to
his work. The project continued to support him, inviting him to attend several workshop trainings
organized by ADRA to further enhance his cocoa production skills.
The easygoing 67-year-old father told ADRA Media that he was thankful for ADRA’s help with
training and continued support for his cocoa plantation.”
“I am a cocoa farmer and have been a businessman for many years. I owned some assets when I
was young, but now that I am older, I focus more on planting cocoa,”
“When I was younger, I had a job, but the money I earned fortnightly was very small. So, I decided to
return home and start planting cocoa,” Mr Manetavua explained.
is ready to be used. ADRA Media.
On Thursday, July 12, Mr. Barnabas Manetavua and Julian Kuri from North Guadalcanal, Gaobata
Ward, received materials to improve their cocoa sun dryers from the ADRA Cocoa Livelihood Project.
Ms. Kuri received 12 pieces of clear polycarbonate roofing materials, while Mr. Manetavua received
two bags of cement, one roll of green shade netting, two Sato pan toilets, and previously, clear
plastic for his cocoa solar dryer. Mr. Manetavua has already built his cocoa solar dryer shed, which
will be completed next week.
Mr. Manetavua credits Seventh-day Adventist Pastor Wilfred Billy from Inus Village for introducing
him to cocoa.
“I didn’t know anything about cocoa until Pastor Wilfred Billy from Inus Village in our area, who had
served as a missionary in PNG, introduced it to me,”
“That’s how my interest in cocoa began. I received training from the Ministry of Agriculture’s
extension office many years ago, and three years ago, ADRA came to my village and conducted
additional cocoa training.”
“Many of our villagers attended ADRA’s training, but I was the only one who took an interest in
cocoa and began planting it right after the training,” an excited Manetavua recounted.
“Today, I continue my work despite getting older. None of my children help me with the cocoa farm,
especially with clearing the plantation and sun drying the cocoa. I handle everything myself since my
children have their interests,” he noted.
a photo at Barnabas Cocoa Plantation during a visit to his farm. ADRA Media
“Since ADRA came here, I’ve trained with them and gained valuable knowledge. This training has
enabled me to produce quality sun-dried cocoa beans, which I enjoy selling to local buyers. Soon,
ADRA will buy from my farm again, and I am committed to working with them because they taught
me how to produce high-quality sun-dried beans,” Mr. Manetavua cheerfully said.
Mr Manetavua joined EZI PEI service for savings to help him save his money every time he received
earning from his cocoa money.
The Soul Cocoa Plus Project of ADRA Solomon Islands is currently working with four communities in
Guadalcanal namely; Sali, Geza, New Tenabuti, and Ghombua. But with this current 5 years
expansion program, ADRA will work with other communities like Vatilau and others within
Guadalcanal may interested in working with ADRA under its new livelihood project that will be
officially announced soon.
