Project results in direct exports

The National Weekender

By CORA MOABI
THE Coffee Industry Corporation’s Productive Partnerships in Agriculture Project (CIC-PPAP) hosted an exit meeting for its lead partners in Goroka on Nov 19.
The purpose of the gathering was for the project management unit to present to them their completion reports, discuss achievements and failures over the duration of implementation of the project and set the scene for them in what they should be doing after the project funding, as the project ends this year.
CIC-PPAP Manager Potaisa Hombunaka congratulated the lead partners who attended for their hard work and commitment and for abiding by the project guidelines in successfully delivering exceptional outcomes.
Partners present at the gathering included Wia Trade Enterprises, New Britain Resources Development Ltd (NBRDL), Hataville coffee, Community Development Resources Ltd, Coffee Connections, Wapenamanda Coffee, Kaupena Coffee, Gumini Coffee, Weni and Mandol, among others.
Hombunaka said the partners who attended the meeting have shown progressive achievements and graduated into group marketing. Four lead partners namely Wia Trade, NBRDL, Wapenamanda and Hataville, under the project were already exporting to overseas markets.
He highlighted that when PPAP started in 2011, a lot of the focus was put on coffee rehabilitation.
“When I joined the project in late 2015 a lot of investment was in coffee quality improvement at the farmer group level. In 2018 at the National Coffee Cupping competition, most of top 20 were CIC-PPAP farmer groups. Sadly, we were not able to export their coffee to specialty coffee markets to fetch higher prices as they were no processes and systems in place to facilitate same.”
Hombunaka said however, under another World Bank funded PNG Agriculture Commercialisation Diversification (PACD) Project next year, this will be one of the main activities of the project.
“There are lot of coffees which are not able to make it to market due to very poor to no road access. This was and is one area that needs to be properly addressed to assist farmers who were facing difficulties in reaching markets to sell their coffee. Under Component 3 of the project, it looked at market access; however, it was a very difficult component to handle which almost brought the project down to its knees.”
He said with the support of partners and funders and a good working team, the project was able to address market access infrastructure. Nine Department of Works (DoW) standard roads were constructed in three provinces totalling up to 60km. These roads have now enabled villagers to bring their produce to the nearby markets and access other important services.
Chairperson of PPAP Industry Coordination Committee (PPAP-ICC), Ian Mopafi, said when the project started, there were many skeptics saying it was another National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP) gimmick. He said looking back, they have been some strong behind the scene work that has enabled the project to be successful to this date.
“For those of you around this table, you applied and were successful, thank you for your contributions and support to the project.”
The project started with 52 partnerships and now has 38 lead partners inclusive of Calls 1 & 2, as there are four calls, delivering the project on the ground. Mopafi said the project had covered many households in 10 coffee growing provinces namely Eastern Highlands, Chimbu, Jiwaka, Western Highlands, Enga, Southern Highlands, East Sepik, Madang, Morobe and East New Britain.
“I believe that we have laid a strong foundation through this project to propel all of us and the industry going forward. Thank you for coming and I wish you good luck in your respective work,” Mopafi said.
He further stated that in the new programme PACD in 2021, the focus would be on rehabilitation of blocks and plantations, marketing of specialty coffee and coffee berry borer.
Among presentations from some of the lead partners, Wapenamanda coffee factory owner, Patrick Komba, expressed satisfaction on the PPAP project.
Komba said before PPAP, there was no vigorous emphasis on quality and marketing. “Since PPAP came on board, they have taught us a new language, and that is on producing quality coffee, adding value to our coffee to fetch premium prices and export of our own coffee.”
Komba said quality goes with a price, and people wanted a good price. “We have been selling in the conventional markets, but now we are encouraged to produce quality coffee to head into the specialty market.”
Another lead partner, Wia Trade Enterprise Ltd, based in Lae have exported their first coffee container in July this year, all through the assistance of PPAP.
Owner of Wia Trade, Dr Joel Waramboi, said his company funded the construction of two factory sheds whilst PPAP supported them with K300, 000 for machineries which arrived on 13th Dec 2019. The factory now provides market for coffee farmers across Morobe. The first container of green bean coffee was exported to Melbourne in July this year. “This shipment was the first for many rural farmers who have not gone into exporting before, and seeing their NASAA/USDA organic certificates in use which was obtained through the PPAP project,” said Waramboi.
“At the end of the day, it is about the farmer’s needs. He plants coffee because he wants something to sustain his livelihood. We have to address the need in order to succeed.”
Amongst all portfolios of the World Bank funded projects, PPAP is one of the top projects in the country. As a result of the successful implementation of this project, a new project called PNG Agricultural Commercialization and Diversification Project (PACD) will commence early next year for the next five years.
The CIC-PPAP coffee rehabilitation initiative is financed by World Bank, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) under a loan arrangement with PNG Government and ends this year.

  • Cora Moabi is the media officer at the Coffee Industry Corporation.