Farmers able to grow coffee to certification

FARMERS in Eastern Highlands will be able to sustainably grow their local coffee to certification standards.
This was revealed at a training on certification and social practice for coffee farmers conducted through the PNG-Australian Partnership funded by Market Development Facility (MDF).
In a statement by the Australian High Commission, more than 560 farmers had the opportunity to cover the best social and environmental practices for coffee farming to meet certification standards.
This includes farmers gaining knowledge on how to produce quality and certified coffee which would result in higher sales and top prices for small coffee growers.
MDF PNG managing director Matthew Kanua said it was through the social aspects of the training that assisted them to create and strengthen the community.
“Through the training, farmers are encouraged to drop antisocial activities and adopt social behaviours that create safer communities,” he said.
Sharon Erick of PNG Coffee and Export said it was pleasing to see men and women participating in the training.
“There are more women than men farmers involved in the training,” she said,
“These women did not only attend the training but were participating and speaking during the training.”