MP: Coffee growers need transport subsidy

COFFEE growers in Goilala, Central, need Government subsidy to transport their coffee to markets, MP William Samb says.
Samb said the district had the potential to produce high-grade coffee but was hindered by the inability to transport the cash crop to markets.
The district is planning to undertake two major coffee programmes – coffee extension and rehabilitation.
“Goilalas, Telefomins, Simbais are all faced with the problem of getting coffee to Goroka, Mt Hagen, Port Moresby or Lae,” Samb said.
“We seriously need a Government subsidy (on freight).
“That is the track that the Agriculture Department and CIC (Coffee Industry Corporation) are going.
“Hopefully we get our fair share of subsidy.
“Our coffee trees are over-grown.
“People who went in the past to pay for the coffee could not even meet the freight.
“That is why we are doing a programme to rehabilitate.
“Coffee, even though it is overgrown but bearing fruit, it can be collected.”
Samb said it had been identified that Goilala coffee from Tapini on two occasions of a coffee cupping challenge, had come third and had been classified as 85 per cent double A.
“That’s the value of our coffee that is organic and high grade,” he said.