Villagers get coffee production training

A LANDOWNER group in Bulolo, Morobe, has provided training on coffee production for its members as an income-generating activity.
The Katumani Incorporated Land Group in Upper Baiune invited the Coffee Industry Corporation (CIC) to provide the two-day training for the villagers.
The training on Thursday and Friday was provided by CIC officer John Kabuba, the caretaker provincial coordinator for farmer training extension in Morobe.
Kabuba was assisted by mobile extension officer Kilaki Zaweioc and Rural Development Division of Agriculture and Livestock technician Ngalau Yasaptung.
The training was based on the ILG executive’s decisions to provide an avenue for villagers in the ILG for income generating activities.
Group secretary Yanna Kalimin said: “We realised that we must create ongoing opportunities for our members using the royalty money paid by the PNG Forest Products for the use of our water for its hydro-power operations.
“By taking such proactive approach, we will encourage our members to move away from the mentality of reliance to being self-reliant using our biggest asset – the 22,000 hectares of land.”
Kalimin told The National that the move to get involved in coffee was because it was a high-value crop.
He said it was a sustainable activity suited for villagers.