Plans to include coffee growers

Kongo Coffee Ld (KCL) managing director Jerry Kapka says coffee plans and programmes must put growers as main beneficiaries.
Kapka said this following the launch of coffee plans in Goroko, Eastern Highlands, on Thursday.
“Coffee is very important to this country as it brings in about US$150 million (K500 million) into the country’s economy every year,” he said.
“The country suffers from shortage of foreign currency and we are bringing that in every year through coffee exports.
“This is made available in the banking system and we use it to buy goods and services in the country.”
Kapka said the industry created many business people, enabling Papua New Guineans to become coffee buyers, processors, factory owners, roasters and exporters.
“I have been in the industry for the last 30 years,” he said.
“From buying coffee in the villages, roadsides, markets, and eventually becoming an exporter and roaster.”
Kapka said the challenge and way forward now was for the industry to produce high-quality coffee.
KCL’s high quality and popular speciality brand (Elimbari Coffee) is the only PNG brand found on the shelves in Japan.
“The volume has been stagnant at about 850,000 bags for the last 20 years,” Kapka said.
“Coffee growers must be the main beneficiaries in all our plans.”