LOCAL GROUP KEEN ON COFFEE FARMING DESPITE SETBACKS

Coffee farmers in Ikikio village of Kamano 2 in Kainantu District of Eastern Highlands Province have come forward to show their eagerness to learn new ideas and receive advice from the government body responsible for coffee by inviting the Coffee Industry Corporation’s PNG Agriculture Commercialization Diversification (PACD) project to their village.

The CIC-PACD team led by Project Manager Potaisa Hombunaka visited Ikikio village situated in the rugged mountains of the Kamano area on Thursday April 11th, 2024.

The newly established group of mostly coffee farmers came together to form the group with an understanding that they would seek assistance from outside to help them with their farming techniques and activities to boost income earned from their hard work. Onamuga Cooperative Society Ltd Chairman Skai Antikate acknowledged the commitment of the team to go into their humble community although it was a long and rough ride into the village.

“I would like to acknowledge you all for making time and coming to our village to give us advice that would help us with what we are currently doing in terms of coffee farming and other advice to strengthen the group going forward.”

Skai said that they had been producing 200-300 coffee parchment bags and bring to either Goroka or Lufa to sell but have not seen the difference they would want to see from these sales.

He said the purpose of them starting the group and formally registering it is that they want to work with organisations such as CIC-PACD and other development partners that would guide them to bring the group to a stage that will bring positive change back to their community.

CIC-PACD Productive Partnership Coordinator Alphy Semy encouraged the group and commended them for taking the first step in registering the group. He told them that change will not happen overnight but with strong and determined leaders of the group working together with the members, they would achieve good things for the community as a whole.

“No one will change your community but you yourselves can make that happen if you work together and listen to your leaders.”

Project Manager Potaisa Hombunaka, humbled by the welcome reception told the Ikikio coffee farmers that he was only a kago boy (servant) for coffee farmers. He said that is why when he received an invitation from the group some time back, he locked that as an important event on his calendar to make sure he visited the community.

“You all are our paymasters and pay mistresses. I am at your service so when you make a call for me to come and visit I have to be punctual and come visit you.”

Hombunaka spoke well of the group for coming together and told them it was the right step to receive assistance in the near future as operating as individuals will be difficult to ask for help but as a group, it would take them to greater heights. He also encouraged the group to start working together and start processing parchment coffee into green bean and go into group marketing commencing next year onwards.

CIC-PACD is a GoPNG agriculture development project mainly for coffee and cocoa with loan funding from the World Bank. Other value chains such as spice and small livestock are also funded by the project.