District plans to build mill

 THE Kabwum district administration in Morobe is planning to partner with the Coffee Industry Corporation to build a coffee processing mill in the district, MP Bob Dadae said.

Unlike the other organic coffee producing districts in Morobe – Menyamya, Bulolo and Nawaeb – Kabwum is not connected to Lae by road, prompting the district to invest in a mill.

Kabwum district is one of six holders of coffee export licenses.

Dadae said on Monday that out of Kabwum’s yearly district services improvement program (DSIP) funds, K5m has been received by the district treasury. They have committed K1m to the economic sector which covers agriculture.

“We already have acquired an export license and now we can sell out coffee directly overseas,” Dadae said.

“We will organise regular coffee growers meeting in the future and get the growers organised.

“I encourage all Kabwums not living productively around Morobe and the country to go back home and engage in agriculture.” 

He said honey bee farming and production had been encouraged by the district administration and they had contracted a specialist from Goroka, Eastern Highlands, to conduct training workshops for the locals.