Temperature affects Arabica coffee growth

 EASTERN Highlands may cease growing the Arabica coffee, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Tommy Tomscoll says. 

He said it was due to temperature changes in the province which would not be suitable for Arabica coffee to be grown there. 

Tomscoll said Papua New Guinea’s coffee industry was pushing for the growth of Robusta coffee.

“From the past until today, PNG is known for exporting 95 per cent of Arabica coffee and 5 per cent Robusta coffee. That has been very, very good for us so far,” he said during the Coffee Cupping Competition awards presentation on Friday night.

“But when we look into the future it is not promising. We have to understand that coffee has got characteristics. Robusta coffee is for the lowlands, at a certain temperature.

“Arabica coffee is for the higher land and mountain areas, at a certain temperature.

“Arabica coffee was introduced to Papua New Guinea and was produced in volumes before because in many of those areas, in the past, the temperatures were sitting below 22 degree Celsius.

“Arabica coffee will grow a lot between 13 degree Celsius and 22 degree Celsius.

“Today, Goroka sits around 27 degree Celsius and sometimes gets to 35.

The biggest question is, into the future, can Arabica coffee continue to be grown in Goroka, the answer is simply, no.

“As the temperature heats up, Arabica cannot,” Tomscoll said. 

He added that Arabica coffee should now be grown at areas where the climate temperature is cool.

“We should be pushing Arabica into Mendi, into Ialibu, where it’s cold and temperature is condusive. We must change because this is what the reality is now. We cannot continue to assume that doing the business we are doing would continue to reap the benefit,” Tomscoll said.