Industry lays out resolutions for business operations

The National Business

AS the country heads into the extended two-month state of emergency (SOE), coffee businesses and stakeholders want to hear from authorities on clear guidelines on how to operate during this period.
An urgent meeting held in Goroka last Friday addressed some concerns raised by industry stakeholders on how best coffee business could continue without being affected by the SOE restrictions.
Coffee Industry Corporation (CIC) general manager for industry operations Steven Tumae said several resolutions were passed during the meeting.
Some of which included;

  • Coffee export movement along Highlands Highway to continue;
  • All coffee exporters were urged to buy parchment coffee from rural areas;
  • Roadside parchment coffee buying would not be allowed during the SOE to adhere to social distancing practices; and,
  • Transportation of coffee cherries to factories by recognised buyers only.

Monpi Coffee Exports general manager Chris Anders said the main impact for the company was roadblocks in Jikawa which was stopping supply of cherry to their wet mills.
“Our volume is down by 68 per cent from 2018 and 2019 supplies.
“The roadblocks were relaxed last night and our volume doubled.
“We have bought very little green bean in Goroka but I expect the supply to start to improve over the coming weeks.”
Meanwhile, coffee traders were advised to register with local SOE controllers in their respective provinces and organise for ease of inter-province coffee transportation.