Transportation costs eating into coffee farmers’ pockets

TRANSPORTING coffee beans from Pindiu to Lae, Morobe, is an expensive exercise for farmers, farmer Konzi Kilong says.
Kilong led an eight-men team from Pindiu’s Kombau village with 11 coffee bags weighing more than 50kg to Lae.
“We paid a PMV fare of K50 per bag and K50 per person to travel about two hours to Gagidu Station before taking another three to four hours dingy (boat) ride to Lae,” he said.
“Most of the time, we have to depend on good weather and the availability of boats.
“The boat-ride costs between K70 and K80 per bag plus another K100 per person to travel to Lae.”
According to Coffee Industry Corporation, local coffee buyers in Lae were paying between K5 and K5.80 per kg for dry beans and between K8 and K8.40 per kg for wet coffee beans.
Local coffee farmer Gowie Weari said it would be a huge relief to farmers if coffee buyers set up buying points in Gagidu Station.