Okuk knocks back

new coffee body

PNG’s Primary Industry Minister, Sir lambakey Okuk, scrapped plans for a Coffee Development Authority. He said it would only duplicate services already provided by the government.

Sir lambakey said such a body would not overcome any shortcomings in the provision of extension services to smallholder growers.

“Creating another institution won’t in itself solve any problems,” he said. “It won’t overcome any lack of expert specialised services to smallholder growers.”

Instead, his department, the Coffee Board and provin cial governments would each sign a memo of understan ding that would bind all parties to a unified effort to control coffee rust and complete the rehabilitation of smallholdings in every coffee growing region of the country.

Meanwhile, coffee buyers in Australia, where PNG’s arabica commands some 30 per cent of the market (13,000 tonnes) by virtue of its quality, are following developments closely.

Arabica, of which PNG is the only major producing nation, is used mainly in the production of high quality whole roast beans sold as ground coffee for use in percolators, drip-filters and espresso machines.

It is less resistant to coffee rust than the more prolific Robusta variety used predominantly for instant coffee and for blending with Arabica.

It is because of its coffee rust-free status that PNG has become the prime Arabica producer.

Coffee buyer for the giant Nestle group in Australia, Mr Don Meade, told PIM: “Yes, we are following deve lopments in PNG. From our end, I think it’s clear there won’t be any discernible effect this season.

“As far as the future is concerned, the authorities there cure well aware of what needs to be done and have a ; spraying programme already underway as well as other measures.

“If they relax on that, it will probably overtake them. If they continue vigilant, it might even improve the crop.”