Jessie
by JAMES KILA
THE NATIONAL Government’s Green Revolution policy got a whole greener in the Okapa District of the Eastern Highlands Province recently.
The Highlands Organic Agriculture Co-operative Society (HOAC) was formally launched at Ivingoi village in the South Fore region.
Attending to witness the occasion was the Governor of the Eastern Highlands Malcolm Kela-Smith and the CEO of the Coffee Industry Corporation, Mr Ricky Mitio.
Both gave their encouragement and support to the new organization and the Governor took the opportunity to announce a multi-million kina project to seal the road to Okapa station that is about to start soon.
Chairman of the HOAC co-operative group Daniel Kinne said that the executive members had worked hard over the past eighteen months to form the co-operative specifically to work in the organic coffee market and to become registered as a member of the Fairtrade organisation.
Working in conjunction with Coffee Connections Limited, a nationally owned company registered as an organic supplier with NASAA of Australia, HOAC will bring benefits of higher coffee prices for members and community development projects in the Okapa area. Benefits will include further road improvements, health and education services and other community projects determined by the members.
HOAC is an existing shareholder in Coffee Connections Limited and will continue to grow and prosper as equity transfer and involvement increases. Export markets have already been established by Coffee Connections as a result of operations in the certified organic market over the past three years. The addition of Fairtrade labeling will increase market opportunities for the combined group.
The General Manager of Coffee Connections Limited, Henry Ame said that after a recent marketing trip to Singapore he had confirmed that there were great opportunities for PNG companies that were prepared to diversify their product and specialize to suit international market demands.
The group hopes to be able to export in its own right next year to markets in the US, Europe, U.K. and Australia where demand for this type of certified coffee is greatest.
Mr Ame added that compliance with international organic and now Fairtrade standards was very onerous because every kilo of members coffee has to be accounted for.
Systems had to be devised to account for coffee bought and sold. Annual audit checks ensure ongoing compliance with chemical free and sustainable agricultural practices. International buyers insist on transparency and full compliance. To date the group has more than satisfied a discerning market.
All things being equal, the partnership between Coffee Connections Limited and the Highlands Organic Agriculture Co-operative Society will continue to grow and prosper for the benefit of the Okapa coffee member growers and the community in general.
Mr Kinne said that the association will succeed and the members will have a say in determining their own destiny. By adapting existing operations to include an involvement of village farmers coupled with the expertise of an established coffee company such as Coffee Connections they will learn and grow to become living proof and a large part of the green revolution in Papua New Guinea.
Ends……/
Govenor Kela-Smith at ivingoi
THE NATIONAL Government’s Green Revolution policy got a whole greener in the Okapa District of the Eastern Highlands Province recently.
The Highlands Organic Agriculture Co-operative Society (HOAC) was formally launched at Ivingoi village in the South Fore region.
Attending to witness the occasion was the Governor of the Eastern Highlands Malcolm Kela-Smith and the CEO of the Coffee Industry Corporation, Mr Ricky Mitio.
Both gave their encouragement and support to the new organization and the Governor took the opportunity to announce a multi-million kina project to seal the road to Okapa station that is about to start soon.
Chairman of the HOAC co-operative group Daniel Kinne said that the executive members had worked hard over the past eighteen months to form the co-operative specifically to work in the organic coffee market and to become registered as a member of the Fairtrade organisation.
Working in conjunction with Coffee Connections Limited, a nationally owned company registered as an organic supplier with NASAA of Australia, HOAC will bring benefits of higher coffee prices for members and community development projects in the Okapa area. Benefits will include further road improvements, health and education services and other community projects determined by the members.
HOAC is an existing shareholder in Coffee Connections Limited and will continue to grow and prosper as equity transfer and involvement increases. Export markets have already been established by Coffee Connections as a result of operations in the certified organic market over the past three years. The addition of Fairtrade labeling will increase market opportunities for the combined group.
The General Manager of Coffee Connections Limited, Henry Ame said that after a recent marketing trip to Singapore he had confirmed that there were great opportunities for PNG companies that were prepared to diversify their product and specialize to suit international market demands.
The group hopes to be able to export in its own right next year to markets in the US, Europe, U.K. and Australia where demand for this type of certified coffee is greatest.
Mr Ame added that compliance with international organic and now Fairtrade standards was very onerous because every kilo of members coffee has to be accounted for.
Systems had to be devised to account for coffee bought and sold. Annual audit checks ensure ongoing compliance with chemical free and sustainable agricultural practices. International buyers insist on transparency and full compliance. To date the group has more than satisfied a discerning market.
All things being equal, the partnership between Coffee Connections Limited and the Highlands Organic Agriculture Co-operative Society will continue to grow and prosper for the benefit of the Okapa coffee member growers and the community in general.
Mr Kinne said that the association will succeed and the members will have a say in determining their own destiny. By adapting existing operations to include an involvement of village farmers coupled with the expertise of an established coffee company such as Coffee Connections they will learn and grow to become living proof and a large part of the green revolution in Papua New Guinea.
Ends……/
Govenor Kela-Smith at ivingoi