Brown says the cacao bean is actually one of the highest sources of magnesium, plant- based iron, antioxidants, so is extremely healthy. Photo: Supplied
While the price paid for cocoa is soaring due to drastically low yields in West Africa, it has highlighted the fragility of small holder farmers in the Pacific, particularly in Papua New Guinea.
Farmers are earning much more after years of being paid a pittance for their production, but that price lift is likely to be transitory.
At the same time most PNG cacao farmers are old and enticing the youth to return is a challenge.
RNZ Pacific's Don Wiseman has been looking at what can be done to make cacao farming in PNG sustainable.
