Locals in East New Britain reviving coffee production

FARMERS in the Arabam ward of the Sinivit local level government in Pomio, East New Britain, are reviving coffee production following a visit by an official.
Division of Primary Industry (DPI) officer Lynette Samuel handed over materials for a solar dryer for the Nasing Coffee Group.
The group was registered with the Coffee Industry Corporation (CIC) years ago.
It abandoned coffee production because of the damage to their road.
Samuel said the Nasing Framing Group was still producing coffee and CIC had assured the members of transport assistance when they completed pulping, drying and bagging of coffee beans.
The group is stationed at Arabam ward but its members live at the Maranagi and Rigel wards further inland who have to cross seven rivers to get to Arabam.
Riet-Dadul is the only the ward in the Sinivit LLG connected by road to the Warangoi government station.
Samuel said coffee farmers in Arabam, Maranagi and Rigel were encouraged to revive their cocoa farms.
A bud wood garden has already been set up. The Kokonas Indastri Korporesen was assisting in the replanting of trees affected by pests. “There are also plans to revive livestock production especially at the Rigel ward, and village chicken and ducks in the three wards located inland along the Baining ranges,” she said.