PM Marape Gives K1.5 Million For Coffee Development in Menyamya . Photo, PNG Government media
Hon. James Marape, the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, has set aside K1.5 million for coffee development in rural Menyamya, Morobe, which produces some of the best coffee in the country.
During his one-day visit to Menyamya Station last week, he revealed this to hundreds of people.
PM Marape was accompanied by members of the ruling Pangu Pati, including Education Minister Hon. Jimmy Uguro, Morobe Governor Hon. Ginson Saonu, and Menyamya MP Hon. Benjamin Philip.
He stated that K1.5 million would go into a coffee depot and K500,000 would go toward coffee price support managed by local churches.
“I want the Menyamya District Administration to set up a good coffee-buying depot here for K1 million so farmers don’t need to carry heavy bags on their shoulders to find markets in Bulolo and Lae,” PM Marape said.
“I want coffee to be bought here at good prices, which farmers can collect, and then return to their gardens
“I want the churches to get the K500,000 and buy coffee at good prices.
“Our Government has put in place a price support programme to support coffee, cocoa, copra, vanilla and other agriculture produce.
“Coffee buyers who are buying here, and at Marawaka (Eastern Highlands) for K1.50 per kg, should now be paying K6 per kg.
“I want the Menyamya District Administration to partner with the churches in delivering this programme.
“I am engaging the churches so they can involve young people and get them back to their coffee gardens.
“The churches will then buy coffee at a good price.”
PM Marape recently stated at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City that PNG is "one huge garden."
“Our job as Government is to help you get your produce to markets,” he said.
“If five million Papua New Guineans go to agriculture, and produce one bag of coffee, cocoa or copra, you are contributing K1.5 billion extra on top of our current National Budget of K12 billion.”
PM Marape stated the Pangu Pati had envisioned a PNG where everyone had money when the country gained independence in 1975, but that this had fallen by the wayside.
“We are now picking up and putting PNG back on the right road to economic independence, where everyone will have money in their pockets,” he said.
“When my Government realised that the price of coffee, cocoa and copra was very low, and deterring farmers, we decided to introduce price support and buying points at the farm gate.”
Reference: Papua New Guinea Today (10 October 2021). “PM Marape Gives K1.5 Million For Coffee Development in Menyamya”.
