Deal signed for a partnership to boost coffee production

The National Business

By ZACHERY PER
Care International PNG and Apo Angra Angna Kange (AAAK) Coffee Cooperative have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to work in partnership to achieve strategic objectives in smallholder coffee production.
Country director for Care International Justine McMahon and general manager of AAAK Coffee Cooperative Brian Kuglame signed the agreement on Monday last week at Mingaimugl village in Kerowagi, Chimbu. McMahon thanked AAAK Cooperative for entering into an agreement for them to work together to support their programmes to develop coffee production.
She said Care International would be committed to coffee production which was the major focus of AAAK Coffee Cooperative
Kuglame welcomed Care International as an international organisation to partner with them.
He said AAAK Cooperative members would always be available to work in cooperation with Care International to achieve the aims of the MOU.
Kuglame thanked Goroka-based PNG Coffee Exports for linking AAAK Cooperative to
American coffee roasters and importers.
Major scope of the agreement would be to establish:

  • Village savings and loans;
  • Financial literacy training for AAAK members;
  • Gender equity and diversification;
  • Family business management training;
  • Various skills trainings;
  • Facilitation and communication skills training; and
  • Project impact evaluation and related issues.

The signing of the agreement coincided with a visit by American coffee traders who were in Waigar to present results of a cupping competition done with AAAK
members’ coffee samples, and launching of a rural community bank.