See http://www.thenational.com.pg/090606/nation18.htm

Coffee growers impress

By ZACHERY PER
THE implementation of the Government’s micro-economic policies since independence has not trickled down to the people.
Agriculture Minister Sasa Zibe told a meeting in Goroka yesterday with executives of the PNG Coffee Growers Federation (PNGCGF).
“Despite being blessed with natural resources and 85% of our people dependent on natural resources for survival, we still remain poor among some of the poorest countries in the world,” Mr Zibe said.
He said after 30 years, we now have 60,000 school leavers returning home without opportunities every year.
“We need to change our micro-economic policies to accommodate changes,” he added.
Mr Zibe highly commended the achievements of PNGCGF in its grower-direct approach to export small growers’ coffee directly overseas at higher prices.
The minister’s comments came after an excellent presentation on the achievements and impediments on the work of the federation by PNGCGF chairman, Jon Yogiyo.
Mr Zibe indicated incorporating some of the PNGCGF plans and strategies into the National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP).
Mr Yogiyo said the federation has 180 coffee cooperatives comprising 80,000 members. They are now exporting coffee direct to the United States where their affiliate company, Coffee Pacifica, sells their coffee at very good prices.
“We achieved all these without any Government, donor, Coffee Industry Corporation (CIC) or any financial institution’s input,” Mr Yogiyo told the ministers. PNGCGF was incorporated in 2002 and obtained its exporting licence in 2004 despite opposition from the CIC.
At the briefing were ministers Paul Teinsten (Trade and Industry), William Duma (Environment and Conservation), Patrick Pruaitch (Forest), Bire Kimisopa (Justice) and Timothy Tala (Vice-Minister Trade and Industry).