Government urged to invest more in agriculture

Business

A MAN from Jiwaka with 40 years experience in the coffee business has called on the Government to invest more in the agriculture sector.
Pup Laki, the chairman of OK Corporation group of companies based in the Kimil area of North Waghi, wants the Government to intervene and rescue the coffee sector in the province as well as other coffee growing provinces in the Highlands.
Laki, in his 70s, has experienced first-hand the revenues and benefits brought about by coffee in the province and country in the 1970s and 80s and wanted to see the glory days return.
He was recognised by the Queen with MBE (Member of the British Empire) medal in 2010 for services to the coffee industry.
“Every individual in Jiwaka has a coffee plot on his or her land apart from outside settlers.
“We grow coffee province-wide,” Laki said.
“Jiwaka has produced about 30 per cent of the country’s total coffee exports and the Waghi Mek Coffee Plantation Ltd contributed significantly to the country’s economy through its exports from 1996 to 1998.
“Soon after the 1,028 hectares in the 14 plantations owned by Waghi Mek Coffee Plantation ran down in 1998, there was a loss of cash flow of K190 million in both Jiwaka and Western Highlands.
“There was another loss of K20 million in profit to shareholders and a further K2 million loss in tax to Internal Revenue Commission (IRC).
“You can imagine the loss in revenue, jobs, business activities, spin-off benefits and other opportunities that were missed since then.
“Now, in the last 22 years, economic activities in Jiwaka have hit rock bottom with no sustainable economic development, let alone giant companies like WR Carpenters providing job opportunities to the labourers and is directly responsible for the cash flow experienced currently.
“We do not have oil, gas, gold or silver.
“We rely on agriculture and we have the potential to become a major revenue earner for the country.”
Laki, a director of Kundu Coffee Exports, stressed that Jiwaka’s advantage was that in every council ward, there was a wet factory, making it really easy for coffee farmers and buyers to trade at the doorstep compared to other agricultural commodities.