Coffee industry building capacity of farmers’ groups via partnerships

THE Coffee Industry Corporation’s Productive Partnerships in Agriculture Project is building the capacity of farmer groups under its industry rehabilitation effort.
Last week, Sallyn Lomutopa and Thomas Oruga conducted a week-long participatory rural appraisal planning training for the Kasuka Coffee Cooperative farmers.
The group is a partner of the agri-business firm Wia Trade Enterprise which is implementing coffee rehabilitation activities with the 813 farmers in Nawaeb and the Wain-Erap local level government in Morobe.
The training for Kasuka farmers was at Kalebo village from March 12-16 to strengthen farmer groups by learning from past mistakes, mapping out opportunities and potentials and moving forward as a group.
PPAP coffee manager Potaisa Hombunaka said of the many contributing factors to the demise of farmer groups or cooperative societies, the lack of transparent leadership and poor governance were two common causes.
“If there is no further extension to coffee rehabilitation project after June 2019, this is an activity under the exit plan,” he said.
“Farmer groups or cooperatives must be strengthened to operate as a business to service their member farmers and others in the community.”
The training was for 60 farmers including young men and women from eight cluster groups representing villages to discuss their problems, realise their opportunities and plan a way forward for their cooperative.