The people of Southern Highlands have welcomed World Bank (IDA), IFAD and PNG Government for extending coffee rehabilitation work to their province.
A councillor from Kaupena, Robert Morombu, said it was a wise decision by the government to improve the “green gold” with loan financing from World Bank (International Development Association) and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
“Coffee is our lifeline. Oil and gas will run out but this green gold (coffee) is here to stay until the second coming of Jesus.
“We thank World Bank, IFAD and also the PNG Government for coming down to the village level to save our coffee gardens.”
Councillor Morombu was among 100 farmers and families who gathered at Kaupena Bible Mission on Wednesday 6 July for the signing of two agreements for coffee rehabilitation work in Kaupena and Pangia.
The contract agreement totalling K2,489,430 was signed between Coffee Industry Corporation (CIC) and new Lead Partners (LPs), Kaupena Coffee Growers and Wiru Coffee Partnership. Kaupena Coffee will service 682 households or farmers covering 239 hectares. Wiru Coffee will work with 660 households covering 231 hectares in Pangia District.
The CIC is coordinating industry rehabilitation work with LPs under its Productive Partnerships in Agriculture Project (PPAP).
LP Daniel Wiru Piopo of Wiru Coffee praised the PPAP model saying finally there is a genuine agriculture project with good governance model to support farmers.
“This PPAP coffee has demonstrated transparent and accountable management practices with excellent governance structure to help our farmers in remote areas.
“We will not hide to receive it. We will call on the PM (Prime Minister) and Governor for SHP for a launching in Pangia. “
Southern Highlands is one of four new provinces the coffee rehabilitation work is extending its coverage under Call 3 Proposals. Other new provinces are Enga, Morobe, Madang and East New Britain.
The CIC-PPAP Manager Potaisa Hombunaka challenged the LPs to appropriate funds as per the contract agreement to build the capacity of farmers who are vital players in the rural sector of the economy.
“This project is not about coffee trees. It is about building the capacity of our rural people to improve their lives.”
Hombunaka also reiterated the call for accountability and good governance in the management of PPAP projects in compliance with World Bank guidelines.
A government official in May this year praised PPAP as a successful project for the government. Daniel Kopel of Department of Treasury said the government would like to see PPAP as a model project where lessons learned can be institutionalised or integrated into other CIC programs.
PPAP is a CIC project through Department of Agriculture & Livestock financed by a loan facility from World Bank (IDA) and IFAD with counter-funding from the PNG Government.