Coffee minister wants more done to boost farmers, sector

Business

COFFEE Minister Joe Kuli wants to see the Government’s plan to increase coffee production and export met.
Kuli said during a meeting with the Coffee Industry Corporation Limited (CICL) management in Port Moresby: “Cash flow and daily needs are met through the sweat and hard work our people put into working on the land.”
He added that the coffee road project was a priority to have easier access for farmers to markets.
Kuli also wants to see more extension officers posted in districts and local level governments to restore the confidence and enthusiasm farmers once had in the industry.
“We must) put more extension officers in the fields to (drive) what we are doing,” he said.
He said Prime Minister James Marape gave him the portfolio “with no structure”.
CICL chief operations officer Steven Tumae briefed Kuli on the programmes and aspirations the industry has in achieving the government’s target of three million bags of coffee by 2030.
He said coffee rehabilitation, freight subsidy, roads, marketing, and increasing the number of extension officers in the districts, were areas that must be supported to boost extension services for farmers.
“More partnership with the district and provincial governments is needed to assist farmers in the rural areas,” he said.
“During Paias Wingti’s days, we had about 500 extension officers deployed in the districts. Today, there are only 38 coffee extension officers serving the 17 coffee growing provinces.”