Photo credit: RNZ
Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has launched his government’s policy on coffee which includes a target of 2,500 trees per family that aims to return interest to one of Papua New Guinea’s leading commodities that once was the highest agriculture revenue earner in the country.
The Prime Minister announced this in Banz, Jiwaka Province last Friday where he travelled to officiate at the launch of the Coffee policy and opening of the coffee festival where thousands of people gathered to witness and participate in the event.
He also announced that the Marape-Rosso Government would make sure that the price of coffee remains constant between K7 and K13 per kilogram for growers throughout the year starting next year in 2023.
“Do not listen to critics on Facebook and in newspapers. There are political and corporate critics who are against what we are doing and saying because there is now a tectonic shift against their corporate interests from the status quo,” said PM Marape.
“We are taking care of your children’s education with free education. We are connecting the country with good roads so now you can have access to good markets. We are putting in programs so you can become engaged where you are.
“You must return to your land and work. Grow coffee.”
PM Marape explained part of the new policy to elevate coffee quality and individual family interest in the cash crop was to encourage as many families as possible within the 17 coffee-producing provinces grow 2,500 trees.
The logic is that if families can get into smaller, more manageable coffee orchards as SMEs, they can concentrate on giving the trees and their beans the best care to ensure quality at the market.
“If one family can grow 2,500 trees, it can make between K21,000 and K25,000 per year to sustain itself,” said PM Marape.
The Prime Minister said beginning next year onwards, the price of coffee would not be allowed to drop below K7 as the Government has several agriculture support programs such as Price Support and Freight Subsidy to buffer against price drop.
“For price, A-Grade Coffee will make you between K9 and K13; B-Grade Coffee K8 and K12; and C-Grade Coffee K7 and K11. I assure you all, we will not go below K7,” he said.
PM Marape also called on the provincial governments of Jiwaka, Western Highlands and Chimbu to begin working collaboratively on coffee with a view to opening a Special Economic Zone to develop this cash commodity further.
He committed K5 million to each of the two provincial governments (Jiwaka and WHP) and K2 million to each of the coffee-producing districts of Jiwaka (North Waghi, South Waghi, Kerowagi, Dei, Mul Bayer, and Jimi) to begin exploratory and preparatory work to coordinate and link all coffee growers in the province and to begin implementing the 2,500 coffee trees per family policy beginning in 2023 where this sector is supported in the budget.
Prime Minister Marape also used the time to call on the youth of Jiwaka to give up drug and alcohol abuse and return to toil their land, grow coffee and make money to better their lives.
