Wenge backs coffee farmers with equipment

NAWAEB MP Kennedy Wenge has donated coffee materials and equipment to three local level government (LLG) in his district to improve the quality of coffee production.
The equipment included 36 coffee pulper machines, clear plastics for coffee beans, sheath cloth, green nets, chicken wire, pruning saws, nails, spades, bucket and dishes.
“Fourteen pulper machines were for three villages in Labuta LLG and the other 22 pulper are for ward one to six in Nabak LLG,” Wenge said.
He said the materials costs K30,000 and were bought by the district development authority from Chemica Ltd in Lae.
Wenge said the two LLGs (Labuta and Nabak) including Wain-Erap were areas that produced big amounts of coffee beans in the province.
He said Wain-Erap LLG received K10,000 from district funds since their coffee rehabilitation project was funded by the government under productive partnership in agriculture project programme sponsored by the World Bank.
“I want to make sure there is equal distribution of coffee equipment in the district so I assist farmers in the other two LLGs,” Wenge said.
Nawaeb rural development officer Nelson Darina said local farmers had been trained on coffee farming.
“We also educate them about the coffee certification programme that promotes the production of organic coffee so that their coffee can be recognised with its organic standards and sold on international markets,” Darina said.
He said coffee exporters in the world markets were now buying certified organic coffee and its important to be a certified producer.