Vice-minister urges farmers to remain in coffee sector

COFFEE farmers have been urged to stay in the sector instead of moving to other garden crops, Agriculture vice-minister responsible for coffee Pogio Ghate says.
Ghate appealed to coffee farmers in Papua New Guinea to increase production by planting more coffee trees to benefit from the government’s new policy which has targeted major agricultural development particularly in established commodities like coffee and cocoa.
“I make this appeal as the vice-minister responsible for coffee, do not cut down coffee trees from your gardens and plantations to convert them into food gardens to make fast money,” he said. “Instead of cutting down coffee trees, you must add more coffee trees on your land.
“Coffee is a source of generating income for the family in the long run.
“What we have now in the gardens are the coffee trees planted by our fathers and forefathers.
“Today’s generation are not interested and will never get into the business if all is gone.”
Ghate said the government planned to ensure farmers received greater benefits from their coffee and they needed to take advantage of that.
He said production would increase and attract more customers which in turn would bring more value and return for small holding farmers and plantation owners.
“We’ll make sure our growers get the best prices for their coffee so they should be planting trees and not cutting them down; it’s a sustainable investment and will provide returns for generations to come.”