Call for more programmes, better services for coffee

By PETER WARI
COFFEE farmers have urged the Southern Highlands government to also focus its attention on the cash crop instead of just potato which is a new project.
Chairman of the Undiri Coffee Investment Ltd (UCIL) Francis Wata said coffee farmers would be able to earn good income because the coffee parchment price was K6 per kilo and the cherry price K3 per kilo.
Prime Minister James Marape announced recently that K10 million would be given to ensure farmers get the farm gate prices for their produce.
“The provincial division of agriculture and livestock must support smallholder coffee growers through their coffee extension institution UCIL which provides services to smallholder coffee growers in the province,” he said.
Wata told The National that Enga, Western Highlands, Chimbu and Eastern Highlands were supporting small and medium enterprise businesses and coffee was the priority.
He urged the provincial government to fund coffee extensions services, seedling development, coffee tools procurement, rehabilitation of old coffee trees, training on coffee extensions for farmers, marketing and coffee quality improvement skills trainings.
“Farmers urgently need group profiling and cooperative small-medium enterprises registration,” he said.
“More work is needed to help the coffee growers.”
Wata said a coffee development office had been set up in Mendi town near the Missionary Aviation Fellowship warehouse.
Farmers were encouraged to visit the provincial coffee development officer Stephanie Wambi, Coffee Industry Corporation officer Stanley Mapua and himself.