District coffee farmers receive payment

 By JUNIOR UKAHA

MORE than 2000 farmers in Unggai-Bena district in Eastern Highlands have received their payments for selling coffee last Thursday.

The money totalling K303,000 was paid to the farmers by Unggai-Bena Coffee Cooperative Society (UBCCS) in Goroka.

Farmers from Unggai LLG received K27,370; farmers from Lower Bena received K120,309; and those from Upper Bena received K155,321.

The occassion was witnessed by local MP Benny Allan, Uggai local level government president Emmanuel Kendaura and Lower Bena LLG Robert Kutupa.

The money according to Lawrence Nemeta, an executive of UBCCS, was payment made to the society members who sold their coffee to the group in 2013.

He said the payment was made only to people who sold dry coffee beans with an added weight of more than 100kg.

Nemeta said last year they did not purchase any coffee because they had to shift office.

“For this year (2015) they (farmers) will get their payment before the end of the year,” he said. Allan said in previous two payments made, the farmers were given cash money but many had abused it on alcohol.

He said payment for 2013 was different as the money would be channeled into a hardware company and the farmers will collect building materials and farming equipment to improve their living standards.

“We will also pay school fees for farmers who have children attending schools and have no money to pay school fees,” Allan said.

“You must not sell your coffee to private buyers.”