The Wabag District Coffee Cooperative Society in Enga Province started planting coffee seedlings in 2023 that have now matured and are ready for harvesting.
Chairman Dan Nyia highlighted that the initial planting of coffee seedlings in Birip and Aiyel Valley including other parts of the Laiap LLG started in 2023. Th actual planting follows the completion of coffee nurseries and associated groundwork in 2011 that was made possible with the support from the Wabag District Development Authority (WDDA).
He mentioned that the Wabag District Coffee Development was promoted by Wabag DDA through a funding support of K100,000 in 2023 that has enabled harvesting this year.
“A 50, 000 seedlings nursery was built and distributed free to farmers in 2021. Planting took place in 2023,” Nyia said.
He expressed satisfaction, saying that after 3 years, 150 family units are now harvesting their coffee yield at a very significant time when coffee prices at the world markets are high.
“Dried coffee beans are being sold at K13.00 per kilogram at Birip where coffee farmers from Aiyel Valley, Birip, and other parts of the constituency come and sell their dried beans,” he said.
The Wabag District Development Authority has built a road into Aiyel Valley and supported coffee rehabilitation programs and agriculture, also benefiting people living in parts of Wapenamanda District which shares electoral boundaries with the Laiap LLG of Wabag District.
