Machine for coffee growers

By JAMES KILA
TWO coffee farmer groups from remote parts of Eastern Highlands and Simbu provinces recently received a donation of two portable coffee pulping machines from Mitega coffee growers co-operative.
The machines were presented to farmers’ representatives from Wesan, an isolated area outside Goroka, and to Terebuna farmers of Yongumugl, Simbu.
They were received by Olele Komehau of Gehekuka village in Wesan, Eastern Highlands and Gideon Peter, of Terebuna village in Yongumugl.
The machines’ turnover was made at a small ceremony in Kotoiufa village just outside Goroka.
Jack Gasowo, chairman of Mitega primary co-operative, said many people in Eastern Highlands felt that “all is well in the Goroka district”.
However, that was not the real case, he said.
“Many people in the mountain areas of Goroka had no access to basic Government services because there were no farm-to-market roads in their area,” Mr Gasowo pointed out.
He said many farmers’ coffee beans were wasting away because there was no coffee machine to process them.
“I got reports of farmers using rocks to pound coffee cherries to remove the skin,” he added.
Mr Komehau said there was a big volume of harvested coffee in their area but could not bring it to the market as there was no road.
He also said they could not process their coffee beans for lack of the needed equipment.