Three million coffee growers’ livelihood at stake

THE government has again been urged to save the coffee industry from the coffee berry borer  (CBB) pest incursion.
Chairman of Coffee Industry Corporation (CIC) Ltd board of directors Joseph Kom said there was already a blow-out situation in Jiwaka and Eastern Highlands as the pest was spreading.
“We have an emergency situation here and I’m making an urgent plea to the new government to release the CBB funding (K20 million) as one of its immediate responsibilities in the first 100 days of operation,” he said.
“Our coffee officers are doing the best they can with little resources to contain the spread of the pest.
“And if there is no government funding released immediately, a major outbreak of CBB is likely in Eastern Highlands and will spread to Morobe and Chimbu.
“I’m calling on party leaders and Members of Parliament to consider the welfare of our people, particularly the three million growers in rural areas of Papua New Guinea whose livelihood depends entirely on coffee.
“If we do not react quickly, imagine the economic and social consequences that will follow.
“Almost all industry stakeholders including the regulating agency CIC, would reduce or shut down their operations. We can have an employment crisis.”
Kom is also chairman of the Papua New Guinea Smallholder Coffee Growers Association.
Kom said while they waited for the promised funding from the government, the Coffee Industry Corporation and National Agriculture Quarantine and Investigation Authority were doing their best to contain the spread.