Co-op pushes vital rural projects in EHP

By AUGUSTINE DOMINIC
THE Highlands Organic Agriculture Cooperative is pushing much-needed community projects in the Okapa District in Eastern Highlands using income from coffee sold overseas.
Since its certification with the Fairtrade in 2005, the community-based organisation has been supporting and initiating projects in schools, aid posts, coffee farming groups and villages.
Chairman Daniel Kinne revealed that HOAC started by supplying school stationery in the North and South Fore area.
As the premium of its coffee sales grew, the co-op refocused its development objectives to more impact projects.
He said the projects included four permanent elementary classrooms buildings and one three-bedroom teacher’s house at Purosa area; supplied sewn timbers for double classroom building and two teachers housing at Ke’efu primary school and supplied Waisa elementary school with V-crimps sheets to replace bamboo wall.
In addition, 150 coffee pulping machines were distributed to farmers in villages in the district to help improve coffee bean processing and supplied mattresses to Ivingoi Sub-Health Centre Ward. 
Kinne said HOAC, which funded the water supply project in Irafo and Yasubi, is keen on completing it for replication in other coffee-growing villages.
The cooperative has obtained organic and Fairtrade Certification from reputable international certifying agencies such as Australia’s NASAA and Germany’s Fairtrade Labelling Organisation (FLO).
Kinne said after receiving Fairtrade certification in 2005, HOAC has been selling coffee through its export agent Coffee Connections Ltd, which receives Fairtrade premium of US$0.20 per pound that supported vital community projects.