Lae’s Coffee Industry Corporation export control office has reported that coffee yields have increased in parts of the Morobe Province.
Papua New Guinea exports around one million bags of coffee annually, but for this year, despite a slow start to the season, exports could exceed one million bags.
While this has been positive news, CIC Senior Quality Controller, Rose Romalus, says they are now working to ensure quality of the beans.
Coffee growing parts in Morobe like Boana, Menyamya, Bulolo and Kabwum are all producing high yields after last year’s drought.
Lae’s CIC office has issued instructions to farmers to give time before new bags are brought down to Lae, because storage facilities and mills are crowded.
The office has been actively doing its part to ensure quality of export beans going overseas.
Romalus says with the increased number of coffee bags coming in, storage will have to be managed to ensure there is no moisture in the coffee beans; as moisture ruins the bean quality.
“This year after the drought, there has been an increase in production and it’s been also a good yield.
Our greatest concern is coffee beans in the coffee bags where there is moisture, definitely there will be defects,” say Romalus.
In 2011, the number of bags exported exceeded one million, this year it’s expected to be the same according to their statistics.
Lae CIC office however needs to be maintained and a coffee mill has to be built for the Morobe people by the Provincial Government.
