By Edwin Fidelis – EM TV, Chimbu
Papua New Guinea’s coffee exports have dropped over the years because of unstable coffee prices.
As a result, local producers, mostly small-scale coffee farmers, continue to receive less from their sale of coffee.
The Chimbu based Kongo Coffee factory owner, Jerry Kapka said government polices are not aligned with the interest of small coffee farmers.
“Last year, K50 million was given by the Prime Minister in Goroka for price support…until now, where has the money gone to?” Mr. Kapka asked.
The Kongo Coffee factory, located just a few kilometres outside of Kundiawa town, is one of the largest coffee manufacturer and exporter of Papua New Guinea’s organic coffee.
The largest contributors of coffee beans to this facility are smallholder village growers.
While the market looks good, the factory owner Jerry Kapka is concerned about the recognition given to coffee farmers by the government.
“If we are serious about helping our small village coffee growers, then we have to provide them with seed capitals. The banks don’t lend money to people anymore… we are now looking at the government”, Kapka said.
The slump in coffee exports over the years is largely due to unstable coffee prices that coffee growers have limited influence over.
The coffee industry is slowly picking up, but not as much as it was 40 years ago.
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