Plantation rehab concept queried

WHILE the plantation rehabilitation concept is welcoming news, it is also very sensitive and risky.
Many rundown and a few operating coffee plantations in the Highlands have their own issues that are impeding progress.
The most disturbing and sensitive issue is land ownership.
Apart from management issues, almost all these coffee plantations have issues, wherein the title is held by an outsider or title cannot be transferred because of land dispute by different landowner groups.
The coffee rehabilitation programme in the Highlands, especially Eastern Highlands, must seriously take into consideration these underlining issues.
The history is very fresh and there should not be any mistake made this time.
The programme must carry out intensive appraisal on every plantation covering every possible queries.
These range from land ownership to management, to share holding, and how and where the plantation was obtained from colonial operators.
I suggest a task force team to be in place to do this appraisal exercise.
It should include police, land mediators, village court officials and rehabilitation programme representatives.
The vision and mission of the rehabilitation initiatives must aim to provide opportunity for common interest of the surrounding communities.
The rehabilitation programme must make considerations for the appraisal exercise.
If proper checking process is not considered, then do not be surprised this promising initiative will become another failed project in the not-too-distant future.

Tobias Joseph
Daulo District
Goroka