Suitability Analysis of Potential Cocoa Cultivation in Southern Highlands and Hela Provinces of Papua New Guinea

Abstract

Cocoa is the second major cash crop in PNG after coffee. Listed 12th with other top 20 cocoa producing nations in the world, PNG has fairly been in the loop by contributing 41200 tons of cocoa per annual from the recent statistic released in September 2018. With the changing climate conditions, and the increased technology of genetics and hybrid cocoa seedling, there is a possibility of cocoa farming becoming very sustainable in the highlands region of PNG. Karimui of Chimbu province is the first highlands province that has successfully been cultivated and producing cocoa based on the technical support from Cocoa Coconut Research Institute of PNG. For this study, soil test and suitability analysis were carried out to identify, potential if any, of cocoa cultivation in Hela and SHP provinces. The study involves the use of GIS and geo-spatial multi-criteria decision-making approach. A total of nine geographic parameters were considered, such as temperature, rainfall, soil texture, pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, Available Water Holding Capacity (AWC), Base Saturated (BS) and slope. Specific analyses involved were map manipulation and overlay, surface analysis, spatial interpolation, data management and data conversion. Each respective spatial technique was carried out throughout data input, processing and finally to produce output results.The result of the analysis revealed that 25% (6273km²) and 30% (7447km²) of the total area are very highly and highly suitable respectively. 31% (7864km²) of the study area is delimited as moderately suitable for cocoa cultivation. The remaining 11% (2651km²) and 3% (774km²) are low and very low in suitability for cocoa cultivation. This study highly recommends that the concerned government authorities in the provinces should start implementing and planting the trial hybrid cocoa clones at a small scale in some of those areas that are highly suitable for cocoa farming.