Society plans to revive coffee farming activities

The National Business

A COFFEE cooperative society aims to revive coffee farming activities of small coffee block holders in Eastern Highlands.
This was made possible this week when the Department of Commerce and Industry cooperative society unit presented certificate of incorporation to Eastern Highlands Coffee Rehabilitation Cooperative Society Ltd.
Cooperative society unit assistant registrar Ricky Manus when presenting the certificate encouraged the society to work closely with relevant stakeholders such as the provincial authorities, Coffee Industry Cooperation and his office for guidance and assistance.
“The focus of the Government is on SMEs and cooperatives especially in the agriculture sector to grow the economy,” Manus said.
The cooperative was initiated in 2014 and made up of coffee farmers in the eight districts of Eastern Highlands.
“We want to assist run down coffee plantations who produce almost 70 to 80 per cent of coffee to improve yields and increase production,” society chairman Avion Kanatawe said.
He said their activities would cover:

  • BUYING cherry and parchment coffee beans from farmers and process into green beans;
  • REHABILITATE rundown coffee blocks and plantations;
  • CONDUCT training for farmers in basic book keeping, coffee husbandry and management; and,
  • OBTAIN a coffee export licence to serve the coffee farmers to export their coffee.