By MALUM NALU

COFFEE can be a powerful uniting force for Papua New Guinea, leading coffee scientist Dr Mark Kenny says.
He said this at the graduation of 55 coffee growers from remote areas of Milne Bay at Bubuletta outside Alotau last Friday.
Kenny…  ‘coffee can be a powerful uniting force for PNG’.-Nationalpic by MALUM NALU

 Kenny, who is also acting CEO of the Coffee Industry Corporation based in Goroka, was accompanied by senior CIC officers from Aiyura – farmer training and extension manager Matei Labun and national farmer training and extension coordinator Simon Gesip.
He told the graduation that their presence showed how coffee could unite PNG.
CIC already has presence in Alotau, with a Milne Bay provincial office in place, run by provincial farmer and training coordinator Dickson Kenas.
“This is the first such graduation in the coastal areas that I’ve attended,” Kenny said.
“All the other graduations that I’ve attended have been in the highlands.
“If it wasn’t for coffee, we wouldn’t be gathering here.
“It’s all because coffee has united us, and I think coffee can unite PNG.
“Coffee is grown all over PNG, in fact 16 provinces, so I think that this is one crop that can unite PNG.”
Kenny said the training would not have been possible without the support of Milne Bay provincial government and provincial agriculture advisor James Duks.
“I acknowledge all the contributions made by the provincial government and the division of agriculture and livestock in the province.
“We have people with vision to see where their province wants to be.
“When you have people with vision, you can see things moving,” he said.
He also acknowledged the support of district administrators from Alotau, Esa’ala and Kiriwina-Goodenough.
“The country will only prosper if we work as a team in anything we do, be it in coffee or other areas of life.”
Kenny said the government could not achieve anything with the support of growers.
He also made a commitment of 20 pulpers for Milne Bay coffee growers as well as more extension officers if there was a need.