Jessie
by JAMES KILA
COFFEE farmers in remote Megunagu village in the upper Bena area of Eastern Highlands received K45, 00 in ‘cold hard cash’ recently as payment from overseas sale of their coffee through a cooperative marketing arrangement
In quite a rather unique reception the cash was transported by a mobile police unit from Goroka right to their rural hamlet by road to be delivered to the individual farmers.
Member for Unggai-Bena Benny Allan officiated at the ceremony in presenting the money to individual farmers totalling 105.
The recipients of the cash were affiliated members of the Sayafa coffee grower’s co-operative who mobilised their coffee early last year during the flush and sold it overseas through the PNG Coffee Growers Federation. The payment recently was the first ever for the Megunagu farmers through the cooperative arrangement.
Villagers elders who spoke at the occasion thanked their educated elites in making the cooperative arrangement possible and for the first time the had to see money making its way to their rural community.
Mr Allan in presenting the funds to the growers reiterated his commitment to make 2005 the “coffee year:” for the Unggai Bena district.
The MP also made a commitment of K10, 000 fund the establishment of a major cooperative society in the district to facilitate farmers to market their coffee through an organised arrangement such as the cooperative to fetch better price.
Meanwhile, the Unggai Bena MP has called on people in his electorate to stop investing in guns from money earned from coffee sales.
“Money you can from selling coffee must be put to good use such as saving for school fees for your children and for improvement in your village lifestyle,” Mr Allan stated.
He also warned the people against investing money in the illegal money-laundering scheme Papalain Association.
Ends……../
Unggai-Bena MP Benny Allan presents cash to a cooperative farmer at Megunagu
COFFEE farmers in remote Megunagu village in the upper Bena area of Eastern Highlands received K45, 00 in ‘cold hard cash’ recently as payment from overseas sale of their coffee through a cooperative marketing arrangement
In quite a rather unique reception the cash was transported by a mobile police unit from Goroka right to their rural hamlet by road to be delivered to the individual farmers.
Member for Unggai-Bena Benny Allan officiated at the ceremony in presenting the money to individual farmers totalling 105.
The recipients of the cash were affiliated members of the Sayafa coffee grower’s co-operative who mobilised their coffee early last year during the flush and sold it overseas through the PNG Coffee Growers Federation. The payment recently was the first ever for the Megunagu farmers through the cooperative arrangement.
Villagers elders who spoke at the occasion thanked their educated elites in making the cooperative arrangement possible and for the first time the had to see money making its way to their rural community.
Mr Allan in presenting the funds to the growers reiterated his commitment to make 2005 the “coffee year:” for the Unggai Bena district.
The MP also made a commitment of K10, 000 fund the establishment of a major cooperative society in the district to facilitate farmers to market their coffee through an organised arrangement such as the cooperative to fetch better price.
Meanwhile, the Unggai Bena MP has called on people in his electorate to stop investing in guns from money earned from coffee sales.
“Money you can from selling coffee must be put to good use such as saving for school fees for your children and for improvement in your village lifestyle,” Mr Allan stated.
He also warned the people against investing money in the illegal money-laundering scheme Papalain Association.
Ends……../
Unggai-Bena MP Benny Allan presents cash to a cooperative farmer at Megunagu