Australia’s support for Solomon Islands’ cocoa sector continues to grow with the announcement of its latest partnership with Tupaghotua Cocoa Plantation (TCP), a local woman-owned business in Guadalcanal.
TCP is well known for producing and exporting high quality dried cocoa beans overseas. Australia’s latest support will upgrade TCP’s solar drying facilities and cocoa processing capabilities to increase the production of cocoa beans for export and local markets.
Australian High Commissioner His Excellency Rod Hilton said Australia is excited to partner with another local small business to scale up the production of high-quality cocoa beans- growing local jobs and incomes.
“Australia is proud to support Tupaghotua Cocoa Plantation’s continued growth and efforts to empower local cocoa farmers. The upgraded solar-drying facilities will improve cocoa quality and production to open up new opportunities for TCP to export to more overseas markets and continue to contribute to the livelihoods of many families in East Guadalcanal.”
TCP has a strong track record of partnering and empowering 164 small cocoa-farming households in East Guadalcanal, providing the local farmers with training in crop management and ensuring a guaranteed market for their wet beans.
TCP’s owner, Agnes Pilopaso, said the partnership with Australia reflected a shared vision for the cocoa sector’s future.
“This upgrade will have a profound impact on our ability to process higher-quality cocoa for local and export markets. It gives us the confidence to continue investing in our operations, supporting our farmers, and providing avenues for improving our community’s livelihoods,” she said.
“We are grateful to the Australian Government for their ongoing partnership and commitment to developing Solomon Islands’ cocoa industry.”
TCP’s new facilities are a key element of their strategy to improve post-harvest processing and increase the supply of value-added cocoa products, such as nibs, chocolates, and roasted beans. These efforts will increase the level of TCP’s exports and strengthen the local cocoa supply chain, providing much-needed financial benefits to local farmers and contributing to the economic growth of the region.
Australia is committed to supporting the growth of innovative, local businesses like TCP in the cocoa and productive sector in Solomon Islands. It is another example of why Australia is Solomon Islands’ nambawan economic partner.
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Media enquiries: Ms Litonya Shallcross, Australian High Commission, 7737294
PHOTOS:
Caption 1: The Australian High Commission’s First Secretary – Economic, William Rowell, trying out TCP’s very own local chocolate drink during a recent site visit to Tupaghotua Cocoa Plantation’s operations in East Guadalcanal.
