First Edible White Copra training in Milne Bay province

Recently in Milne Bay Province, a first ever training on Edible White Coprawas conducted by MBPGs Division of Agriculture and Livestock in partnership with the Kokonas Indastri Koperesen.

The week long training was held at the Bubuleta Livestock and AgricultureStation outside of Alotau town. Participants were from the four (4) districts of Milne Bay Province and also included (6) farmers from neighbouring Magarida, Amazon Bay in Central Province.

KIK officers Mr. Harold Joseph and Mr. James Maora with additional support from their Central Province colleague Mr. Steven Pasu facilitated on how to produce edible white copra.

During the training, Facilitating KIK officer, Mr. Harold Joseph introduced the theory on the production of Edible White Copra, and ended with practical hands-on experience. During the practical production sessions which farmers are already acquainted with, all knowledge relating the production of Edible White Copra was applied. This was brand new information to farmers as pioneers of the edible white copra training.

The production process began with the husking of ten (10) to thirteen (13) month old dry coconuts, cracking them to remove embryos and water, drying them out in the sun for about two (2) hours, then loading them into the dryer bed to dry further above heat piping heated by fire overnight. The next day dried copra was unloaded from the dryer, scooped, sorted out to identify only good white copra, bagged and then weighed.

During this time, relevant apparatus necessary to use during the production of edible white copra were also introduced to the farmers and they were Moisture Meter, Infrared Heat temperature thermometer and Simple Oven Thermometer Spokesperson on behalf of participating farmers, Mr. Ede’ede representing Esa’ala expressed gratitude to KIK and the MBPG Division of Agriculture and Livestock and said what they had learnt was new and they were ready to go back and experiment with their edible white copra production.

Whilst Edible White Copra is currently produced in East New Britain and exported through KIKs marketing network, this was the first training for Milne Bay Province including participating Magarida farmers in Central Province. The training was officially launched by the District Administrator of the Alotau District, Mr. Lindsay Alesana and officially closed by the Principal Advisor for MBPG DAL, Mr. Jonathan Kapoila.