Pomio joins coffee initiative

 By ABIGAIL APINA

THE Dadul people of Sinivitin Pomio have joined a programme to help farmers deal with coffee-related problems.

East New Britain is the third province to join the participating rural appraisal planning programme used by the Coffee Industry Corporation to assist farmers find solutions to their problems.

Sinivit LLG president and deputy governor Boniface Setavo said he was impressed with the programme.

He promised support for farmers from the Dadul ward, Arabam ward and Riet ward to ensure that the Sinivit LLG becomes the top producer of coffee in the province and the region.

“You have proven that you can do it,” Setavo said.

Rural extension development officer Shiela Sato told the farmers they were now well-equipped with planning skills.

“We have to work together to ensure quality, quantity and consistency in the industry,” she said.

Sato said the coffee farmers in the LLG and other parts of the province had the potential to meet the demand but were handicapped and under-resourced.

It is understood that the DARI marketing group consists of 162 coffee farmers. 

Its administrative centre is at Dadul, 4km southwest of Warongoi substation. 

The group has 82,124 coffee trees capable of producing 35 tonnes of green beans. But most of the produce cannot make it to market due to marketing problems.