Jiwaka Province will host a coffee forum next year, says Chief Executive Officer of Coffee Industry Corporation (CIC), Charles Dambui.
The CEO made the announcement while congratulating two farmer groups in North and South Waghi for their success in the recent National Coffee Cupping competition held in Lae last month.
Mr Dambui said this is an opportunity for all Jiwaka people to stand up together.
“We will host the first coffee forum in Jiwaka to discuss how to revive coffee here,” says Mr Dambui.
The groups namely Kosem/PPAP of North Waghi and Kosem/PPAP of South Waghi are Co-partners of Kosem Coffee Ltd, a Lead Partner of CIC’s Productive Partnerships in Agriculture Project (coffee component).
“The groups are also the first in the highlands and Jiwaka Province to export their coffee directly overseas fulfilling CIC’s Tree-to-Cup policy under group marketing,” Dambui reiterated.
The CEO also acknowledged the World Bank, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and GoPNG for funding PPAP coffee rehabilitation activities which in a very short time is producing some remarkable results.
Mr Dambui and Chairman of PPAP Industry Coordination Committee, Ian Mopafi, in the presence of CIC-PPAP officials and farmers on Thursday, September 9, in Banz, launched a container full of 120 bags green bean coffee for direct export to South Korea under group marketing.
The groups are first timers in the cupping competition but came 4th and 6th out of 114 Arabica competitors.
General Manager of CIC’s Research, Growers & Service Division, Dr Mark Kenny, urged the farmers to work on their land to improve their livelihood.
“We abandon our coffee gardens and go looking for politicians to give us money whilst money is right at our door steps,” says Dr Kenny who is from Jiwaka.
“We do not have gold and copper like other provinces. Our future and that of Jiwaka depends on coffee. This we must understand and return to our coffee gardens.”
To organise the farmers to produce quality coffee and participate in the coffee competition and group marketing is an initiative of Managing Director of Kosem Coffee Ltd, John Munull and his son Mark, who is the Project Coordinator of the CIC-PPAP project.
It is a huge achievement for the Munnul’s with the professional support of CIC officer Philip Puke and PPAP consultant, Steven Tevo, to begin the change in farmers’ attitude who are used to selling of cherries or parchment on roadsides.
Project Manager for CIC-PPAP, Potaisa Hombunaka, acknowledges his predecessor David Freyne and PPAP Field Technical Officer for Western Zone, Steven Tevo, because he believes they worked hard behind the scenes to deliver these outstanding results.
Details of the coffee forum will be released later by CIC head office in Goroka in coordination with the CIC officers in Jiwaka and Kosem Coffee Limited.
