Study shows 85pc of women involved in coffee farming

By PISAI GUMAR
Many women at Wain-Erap in Nawaeb, Morobe, are taking leadership roles in cultivating coffee, according to a survey by Wia Trade Enterprise (WTE) Ltd and Coffee Industry Corporation (CIC).
The survey reveals that up to 85 per cent of women are involving in coffee farming. WTE Ltd managing-director Dr Joel Waramboi said according to their survey in Wain-Erap, an increasing number of women embraced coffee farming to sustain family livelihoods. This included those as young as 16, widows, disabled and divorced women.
“Women are taking ownership in performing leadership roles in coffee gardens from nurturing, taking care, harvesting, processing and selling,” Waramboi said.
WTE Ltd and CIC, in collaboration with Morobe provincial agriculture and livestock, facilitate coffee rehabilitation activities through the Productive Partnership in Agriculture Programme (PPAP). The PPAP is funded by the World Bank through its International Fund for Agriculture Development.
Waramboi said with much gender equality awareness by various non-government and government organisations in media, women were showing their leadership capability in agriculture.