CIC

He was elected in a Special General Meeting of the Board of Directors held in Port Moresby recently.

Kapka represents the Exporter’s Council on the board and now takes over from outgoing chairman, Patrick Komba.

CICL Acting Chief Executive Officer, Charles Dambui officially announced Kapka’s appointment in a meeting between the CICL management and new board of directors at the CICL headquarters in Goroka, last Wednesday.

The mills will assist them to efficiently process their coffee.

Agriculture and Livestock Minister John Simon officiated at this launching at the Nondugl

Council Chamber grounds recently.

The groups include Waka, Numkussy, Opka, Kumbal Kopong and Konum coffee cooperatives.

Minister Simon told the gathering at Nondugl that they did not need an educated person to go and tell them to attend to their coffee gardens, but that the knowledge and skills on how to till the land was already with them.

From the Unggai-Bena District of Eastern Highlands Province, the MCDC received praised from local MP Benny Allen, for its achievement.

The launching took place in Makia village recently.

Coffee Industry Corporation CIC General Manager for Research & Growers Services Division, Dr Mark Kenny, congratulated MCDC for initiating a group that would address the people’s needs holistically.

Dr Kenny said, “This is the start for many good things to come to you but the road ahead will need your commitment and hard work.”

In a media statement the CIC said that a checkpoint set up at Kondapina has rejected about 370 tonnes of cherry coffee on a daily basis from Dei Council due to CBB infestation.

General Manager, Steven Tumae, said despite concerted efforts with the National Agriculture, Quarantine & Inspection Authority (NAQIA) the pest continues to spread.

“It is tough dealing with cherry traders daily but they do not have a choice and comply with personnel at the checkpoint,” said Tumae.

CIC Chief Executive Office, Charlie Dambui, told Loop PNG  the incursion of the pest put the CIC’s plans on the backfoot and which now required a new plan to 

The incursion of the pest to throw plans of the Coffee Industry Corporation on the backfoot, as they now have to re-strategise on how to manage it.

This comes after the CIC introduced the ‘Tree to Cup’ program which aims to link small farmers to the markets by improving and maintaining the volume, consistency and quality of coffee.

Their spokesman, Steven Apa said many small coffee growers in Southern Highlands Province were keen to learn best coffee growing and production practises, but no one was producing such services.

Apa cited example of many villagers are not using proper tools to prune coffee tree, but using bush knives and even axe to remove unwanted branches thereby destroying the coffee trees.

As well, he said people were using unconventional methods such and using their stone, timber and other implements to pulp cherry beans to produce parchment.

This is an initiative under coffee rehabilitation work being implemented by Anglican Church of PNG, a Lead Partner of Productive Partnerships in Agriculture Project (PPAP) – coffee component.

“The aim here is to encourage our farmers, especially those who live in the rural areas to save some money from their coffee earnings.

“As long as their savings accumulate in a bank account, it will excite them to think about buying new things to improve and sustain their lives,” says Potaisa Hombunaka, project manager of PPAP.