Coffee growers exporting quality green beans to Korea

Coffee growers at Wantrifu village in Asaro Valley, Eastern Highlands, recently exported 82 bags of high quality green bean Arabica coffee to a speciality market in Korea for a lucrative price.
The 400-plus growers operate under Pastor Philip Timbie of Hatavile Coffee Ltd who was a lead partner of Coffee Industry Corporation’s Productive Partnerships in Agriculture Project (CIC-PPAP).
According to a statement from CIC-PPAP, Wantrifu was one of the villages in the valley heavily affected by CBB pest in 2017.
The CIC field technical officers with PPAP coffee funding of tools and materials conducted pruning and clearing of over 50 coffee gardens in the area.
Growers who agreed for pruning of their trees were now seeing heavy bearing of cherries.
Timbie was introduced to a marketing agent with the help of former CIC-PPAP monitoring and evaluation officer Richard Alepa.
He said the Korean agent asked for some coffee samples which he provided.
The agent was impressed with the quality but wanted a confirmation and second round of samples were sent.
The agent and a buyer were interested in the quality and Timbie immediately organised a shipment of 82 green bean bags last November.
The importer immediately wanted a container of 300 bags of same quality coffee and offered a further increased price.
“As long as you do something right, help will come and I’m grateful to CIC-PPAP, World Bank, IFAD (International Fund For Agricultural Development) and the PNG Government,” Timbie said.
CIC-PPAP project manager Potaisa Hombunaka said this is an example of an unplanned outcome but is one way of seeing sustainability in coffee rehabilitation after CIC-PPAP funding.
“The CBB pest is here to stay and will never be eradicated,” Hombunaka said.
“Our approach must be holistic which includes facilitation for lucrative niche markets and growers will look after their gardens to control and manage the pest.
“Just rehabilitation of coffee trees is not good enough.”
The 400-plus growers at Wantrifu and Asaro Valley are also involve in other agriculture activities such as fresh produce.
Hence, a joint visit was made by CIC-PPAP, Fresh Produce Development Agency and IFAD’s Asia Pacific country manager Ivan Cossio Cortez and team.
It includes officials from the Department of Agriculture and Livestock, Treasury, Department of Planning and Monitoring, Market for Village Farmers project and the Centre for Excellence in Financial Inclusion.