What began in 2016 as a modest, one-day event focused solely on a project for DPI (Department of Primary Industry) one-time partners has blossomed into a comprehensive, three-day festival called the Bougainville Chocolate Festival.
Now in its 8th year, the festival has brought together over 120 stalls comprised of cocoa farmers, SMEs, corporate entities, and agriculture stakeholders.
The first day started off with people from all over Bougainville who have come to be part of this festival, either selling, buying, or engaging in activities.
Chief Compliance Officer for Autonomous Bougainville Government DPI (ABGDPI), Bougainville Commodities Regulations, Mr. James Butubu, told PNG HAUSBUNG that the initial project, was designed with multiple ambitious objectives for local farmers including improving production and farm productivity, diversity farms, improve health and nutrition awareness and to provide market access for farmers to connect with outside farmers.
The original festival aimed to provide a direct avenue for farmers to showcase their beans, with the hope that attending outside buyers and chocolatiers would establish valuable partnerships and market connections.
“This strategy saw early success, connecting some local farmers with chocolate makers in Australia.”
However, the limited, one-day format quickly proved inadequate. farmers expressed a need for more time and more information.
“We have views from the farmers complaining that they are not getting the right or enough information during this one day.”
To meet this demand and broaden its scope, the festival was expanded to its current three-day format, transforming it into a significantly larger show.
The festival has evolved beyond a pure cocoa event to become a central hub for economic activity, tourism, and governmental outreach.
The focus remains on the farmers, who are the "central part of the festival," with significant investment made to bring 114 farmers from the South, Central, and North areas of Bougainville to attend.
This 3-day festival aims to give farmer exposure and learning where farmers are encouraged to circulate and engage with not just cocoa-related programs but also other SME (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) programs and government information.
“The event is seen as a crucial opportunity for the average village farmer to gain exposure and information they might otherwise never access.”
With a number of areas to consider, this event allows organizers to better emphasize efforts in targeted extension programmes and to address challenges and improve cocoa quality across the board.
Information sharing and collaboration is a main area which includes discussions on cocoa regulations and quality issues which were instrumental, and give a platform towards all farmers to come together to sell and getter better exposure to their products.
“The festival serves as a vital platform for learning from each other and identifying collective weaknesses that need attention.”
Meanwhile, in terms of tourism, the festival now actively considers the broader economic impact and the development of the tourism industry in the region.
The inclusion of all ABG departments signifies a major expansion, ensuring comprehensive information is available in solidifying its role as a key development platform.
The festival is no longer just a meeting point for cocoa buyers and sellers; it is a dynamic, multi-faceted platform designed to empower farmers, drive quality improvement, and stimulate wider economic and sectorial development.
The festival will conclude this Friday, the 31st of October 2025.
