Farmers seeking borer funding

By ZACHERY PER
A GROUP of coffee farmers in Eastern Highlands is asking the Government to provide more funding for the campaign to eradicate the coffee berry borer.
The growers from Asaro, in Daulo district, said their gardens had been infested with the pest and they were pleading with the Government to put more money into the containment and eradication programme.
Growers’ spokesmen Steven Mutozo, Elvis Aron and Oxy Goikoiyo asked the Coffee Industry Corporation CBB awareness team why the Government had failed to allocate the K60 million they had asked for to fight CBB.
Aron said coffee had been bringing in foreign exchange and the Government must allocate more money to fight the CBB incursion.
“The Government has been telling the people that agriculture is one of the top priorities but when CBB is found in Jiwaka and Eastern Highlands, where is the Government action?”
Coffee Industry Corporation general manager Steven Tumae said the coffee prices were determined by the world market, depending on supply and demand.
CIC officer David Elmai said farmers would be assisted in the stumping of their affected trees with tools, chemicals and other materials.
“We can only wait for a few months for the new shoots to grow to pick our cherries. This is when you will receive high price,” he said.