WB-funded coffee project advancing well

By SOLDIER BURUKA
THE World Bank-funded productive partnerships in agriculture Project (PPAP) targeting coffee and cocoa sub-sectors is progressing well.
The agriculture-based development project, aimed at improving performance and sustainability of value chains in coffee and cocoa-producing areas, thereby improving smallholder livelihoods, is a major impact project.
Major components were institutional strengthening and industry coordination, productive partnerships, and market access infrastructure.
The project is for six years.
Bulk of the funding was from the World Bank and International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), with support from the government.
The project was being introduced into the Eastern Highlands, Chimbu, Jiwaka and Western Highlands provinces for coffee, and East New Britain and Autonomous Region of Bougainville for cocoa.
It is being implemented by the Coffee Industry Corporation and the Cocoa Board.
A joint World Bank International Development Association (IDA) and IFAD mission recently carried out the second implementation support mission for PPAP and rated the overall implementation of the project as “moderately satisfactory”.
The main objectives of the mission were to review the overall implementation progress of the PPAP and reach agreement with the implementing agencies on the 2012 work plan.
The review mission met with relevant government agencies, provincial governments, potential PPAP lead partners, co-partners, cocoa and coffee farmers and visited all six project provinces.
The mission’s draft findings and recommendations were discussed in a wrap-up meeting with officials from the Department of Agriculture and Livestock and National Planning and Monitoring last week.

The draft aide-memoire was discussed and agreed upon by all parties.
Mission leader and senior agriculture economist, Mona Sur, said she was happy with the progress made so far and urged the implementing agencies and other stakeholders to continue their positive efforts.