The newly elected Chairman of the Coffee Industry Corporation Ltd Mr. Patrick Komba is urging all coffee stakeholders to work together to improve the production and image of the PNG coffee industry.
Mr. Komba was elected to the Chairman’s post recently by the CIC Board of Directors after the three year term of former Board Chairman; Mr. James Korarome expired in January this year.
While thanking the Board members for his election, Mr. Komba said the PNG coffee industry is facing a though challenge of stagnancy in production over the past 20 years, however, it can be improved if all stakeholders work together to improve it.
“The industry growth has declined and stagnant in the past two decades and I am like the appointed captain of a sinking ship. However these are challenges before us and requires collective efforts from every stakeholders to manage”, said Mr. Komba
He particularly, echoed the sentiments of his other agriculture colleagues that PNG was largely an agricultural dominated society but the government is not taking its priorities right by supporting the sector.
“Agriculture sector is rural base industry benefitting 85% of our population and the national government must demonstrate commitment to the sector with stable appointment of Ministers, Heads of Departments, CEO’s of commodity Boards, fast track appointment of Board members and improve infrastructure developments, effective management of law and order and involve agricultural organizations in policy makings and service deliveries”, said Mr. Komba
Mr. Komba hails from Wapamanda in the Enga province and he represents Enga and other smaller coffee growing provinces on the CIC Board.
