Coffee project to aid farmers

ABOUT 2000 coffee farmers in Enga are expected to benefit from the rehabilitation exercise conducted by the Productive Partnerships in Agriculture Project (PPAP) under the Coffee Industry Corporation (CIC).
This follows the signing of a partnership agreement  between the CIC and lead partners, Wapenamanda Coffee Factory and Niugini Sustainable Energy Solutions, to carry out rehabilitation works in the province.
The project will be financed by a loan of K2.7 million from the World Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development with counter-funding from the Government.
“Many projects come and end in Western Highlands. This is the first for World Bank and IFAD to reach remote places like Enga,” Patrick Komba of Wapenamanda Coffee Factory Ltd said.
“Other projects will follow the hallmark of how well we implement this project.
“There will not be any continuity if we don’t do well with honest reporting.”
PPAP project manager Potaisa Hombunaka told stakeholders that the success of the exercise depended on productive partnership.
“The CIC including PPAP consultants and its extension officers, provincial DAL officers in the province must liaise and work together to deliver this project. Together we take ownership of this project to build the capacity of our farmers which improve their lives,” he said.
“I encourage the provincial government and local level government to support by building roads and bridges so farmers can have easy access to markets and social services.”
Under the agreement, Wapenamanda Coffee Factory Ltd will service 800 households covering 280 hectares in Wapenamanda, Wabag, Lower Lai and Tsak Valley according to a CIC-PPAP media release.
Niugini Sustainable Energy Solutions Ltd will service 1170 households covering 410 hectare mostly in Kompiam/Ambum and Wabag districts.
The lead partners will also facilitate farmer training conduct farm book/record keeping, and carry out HIVAIDS and gender equality training with farmers and their families.