Goilala District is the 6th district to enter on a partnership deal with the Coffee Industry Corporation (CIC) to revive coffee extension in the area.
The district used to be the top coffee producer in the Southern Region up until the decline of government services in the area in recent years. It has three LLGs; Tapini, which is accessible by both air and land transport and Guari and Woitape only accessible by air.
The signing of the coffee Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) coincided with the opening of the Goilala District Office Complex and presentation of K1 million to Tapini Sacred Heart Secondary School by Education Minister Nick Kuman on Monday 30th July, 2018 in Tapini Station.
The occasion was witnessed by government dignitaries, Goilala Chiefs and the people of Goilala District.
A team led by CIC Chief Executive Officer Charles Dambui was present to officially sign a coffee MoA with the district.
Goilala MP William Samb spoke of how government services were neglected in the district and how he plans on alleviating some of these shortfalls by addressing key policy drivers.
Mr Samb said since taking office in 2015, the Goilala District Development Authority (GDDA) has prioritized its key policy drivers and they were: infrastructure and economic initiatives which included embarking on farming.
“Under the economic sector, we are embarking on English Potato, Bulb Onion and coffee projects upon advice from Fresh Produce Development Agency and CIC.”
He said they wanted to educate farmers on cash flow management and farming techniques, improve logistics and introduce freight subsidy programs.
“We want to mobilize people to address issues on a community level and not individual needs.”
He said the signing today confirms that partnership. “Under infrastructure, without proper managed transport system, we cannot address other government priorities.”
Coffee has grown wild in the district due to logistical challenges and loss of interest by farmers. “We want to invest in rehabilitation and extension of this key cash crop,” said Samb.
CIC Chief Executive Officer Charles Dambui said the partnership will pave the way for coffee work to commence as soon as possible in the district. “Remote areas such as Tapini can be assured to benefit through CIC’s freight subsidy scheme and other extension packages under the new agreement.
“This partnership will focus on sustaining maximum production potential via the application of current agronomy practices by way of training, application of technical innovations and processing and market access for farmers in the area.”
Mr Dambui said at one time the district was producing up to 900 tons of parchment coffee annually but decline in government services and the remoteness of the area was not favorable to the interest of coffee farmers.