Coffee industry welcomes World Bank project

By MALUM NALU

Coffee Industry Corporation board chairman James Korarome (left) and Rural Industries Council executive officer Graham Ainui (right) lead World Bank officials including project task team leader Mona Sur (lcentre) to Mark Solon Auditorium at University of Goroka where the launching took place.-Picture by MALUM NALU

Coffee industry representatives have welcomed the World Bank-funded Productive Partnership in Agriculture Project (PPAP), saying that it is long overdue and just what the industry needs.
Exporters’ chairman John Edwards, processors’ chairman Jerry Kapka, plantation representative Max Kumbamong, Western Highlands’ smallgrowers’ chairman Peter Kewa and Jiwaka smallgrowers’ chairman James Koimo were united at the launch of the coffee segment in Goroka on Tuesday last week.
“Our coffee industry is slowing down,” Edwards said.
“The PPAP is giving us another chance.”
Kapka, managing director of renowned Kongo Coffee, said a lot of money was going to be pumped into the industry.
“By the time this project is finished, we want to see coffee earn K2 to K3 billion a year,” he said.
“We want credible people to be involved in this project.”
Kumbamong said the government had failed the industry many times, such as the ill-fated national agriculture development plan (NADP), in which millions were alleged to have been stolen by “paper farmers”.
“This is a great opportunity for Papua New Guineans to benefit,” he said.
“Such plans are long overdue.”
Kewa said smallholder growers were facing many problems.
“Prices are not going down to the farmers,” he said.
“We need farmer training.
“We need group marketing.
“This is where World Bank can come in.
“We have to work together and make this industry develop.”
Koimo said the soon-to-be Jiwaka province had set itself an ambitious target of one million bags per year.
“We have set a target of one million bags per year,” he said.
“Jiwaka produce 40% of PNG coffee but is not receiving services.
“I think it’s best that CIC decentralises extension services to the provinces.
“It’s timely that the World Bank has come in and we want you to work with smallholder coffee growers.”

NARI show on May 5

By MALUM NALU

Scientist Michael Dom (centre) showing pig silage with Highlands Pig Farmers’ Association president Moses Pala (left) and Tambul farmer Akilo Purunu at the 2010 NARI Agricultural Innovations Show.-Picture by MALUM NALU

Hundreds of people are expected to converge on the National Agricultural Research Institute at Bubia outside Lae on Thursday, May 5, for the annual Agricultural Innovations Show for 2011 to be staged at its Sir Alkan Tololo Research Centre.
The programme starts at 8.30am and continues for the whole day.
This will be the fifth year of this ‘information exchange and knowledge sharing’ event in which partner and collaborating organisations in agricultural and rural development will display and exhibit their innovations and improved technologies, and interact with farmers and the general public.
The theme for the May 5 event is “Investing in Innovative Agriculture for Prosperity”.
This day also marks NARI’s 14th anniversary.
This year’s show will involve demonstrations and displays of materials and technologies.
NARI will also be officially releasing three improved technologies to the farming community.
There will be a number of government officials, private sector representatives and other stakeholders participating.
Also participating and presenting their activities will be a number of research and development agencies, the private sector, educational and training institutions, extension providers, NGOs, and community groups.
Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Paru Aihi, has confirmed his availability to be the chief guest at the show.

Lands Department denies selling land

By JUNIOR UKAHA
THE Lands Department has refuted claims the land on which the iconic First House of Assembly building stands has been sold to a foreign developer, The National reports.
Lands acting secretary Romily Kila Pat said the report in The National yesterday was misleading “as the land in question was never sold, but leased, to the Lamana Development Group by the state to build a replica of the historical first House of Assembly”.
Details of the lease agreement remained unclear but Pat said the place would be turned into a “tourist attraction and not a hotel” as claimed by David Western Construction manager David Kini.
How much the project was worth remained unclear as well.
Pat said the developer was allowed to develop the area under a “special public-private partnership arrangement”.
He said the government had no money to improve the place and decided to relinquish it to the Lamana Development Group to develop on its behalf.
Pat said the land on which the first House of Assembly stood consisted of two separate plots, hence, under the arrangement, the developer would develop the site using its own resources and, after completion of the job, would take as its reward a portion of the land in the block.
Pat said the arrangement with the developer was made a couple of years ago and the then governor-general (Sir Paulias Matane) was fully informed of and approved the deal.
National Museum and Arts Gallery acting director Dr Andrew Moutu, whose organisation was the custodian of the property before its acquisition by the developer, said yesterday The National report was “partly true and partly incorrect”.
He would not elaborate, saying many factors were involved.
A planned interview with him failed as his phone was switched off.
Attempts to get comments from the developer yesterday were unsuccessful.

Somare yet to resume duties

PRIME Minister Sir Michael Somare has not resumed official duties after serving his 14-day suspension, which ended yesterday, The National reports. Sir Michael was suspended by a leadership tribunal after being found guilty of official misconduct. He had failed to file his annual returns to the Ombudsman’s Commission.
The suspension began on April 4 and ended last Friday. He was to have returned to office yesterday.
The Office of the Prime Minister said acting Prime Minister Sam Abal “will remain acting until further notice”.
Government sources said Sir Michael was still in Singapore where he would undergo an operation tomorrow.

Lands Department denies selling land

By JUNIOR UKAHA
THE Lands Department has refuted claims the land on which the iconic First House of Assembly building stands has been sold to a foreign developer, The National reports.
Lands acting secretary Romily Kila Pat said the report in The National yesterday was misleading “as the land in question was never sold, but leased, to the Lamana Development Group by the state to build a replica of the historical first House of Assembly”.
Details of the lease agreement remained unclear but Pat said the place would be turned into a “tourist attraction and not a hotel” as claimed by David Western Construction manager David Kini.
How much the project was worth remained unclear as well.
Pat said the developer was allowed to develop the area under a “special public-private partnership arrangement”.
He said the government had no money to improve the place and decided to relinquish it to the Lamana Development Group to develop on its behalf.
Pat said the land on which the first House of Assembly stood consisted of two separate plots, hence, under the arrangement, the developer would develop the site using its own resources and, after completion of the job, would take as its reward a portion of the land in the block.
Pat said the arrangement with the developer was made a couple of years ago and the then governor-general (Sir Paulias Matane) was fully informed of and approved the deal.
National Museum and Arts Gallery acting director Dr Andrew Moutu, whose organisation was the custodian of the property before its acquisition by the developer, said yesterday The National report was “partly true and partly incorrect”.
He would not elaborate, saying many factors were involved.
A planned interview with him failed as his phone was switched off.
Attempts to get comments from the developer yesterday were unsuccessful.

Chinese killed fighting rapists

By ZACHERY PER
THE Chinese national killed in Goroka over the weekend fired shots to disperse thugs raping his female passengers and looting his vehicle, Goroka police said yesterday, The National reports.
Initial police investigations showed the man, his friend and two females were struggling to push their mini-dyna truck out of the drain, after it went off the road, when opportunists and thugs converged on them.
The thugs raped the female passengers, robbed them of cash, mobile phones and other valuable items, Eastern Highlands provincial police commander Supt Augustine Wampe said.
He said Alex Seng Da then fired the shot from his pistol that hit a youth in the crowd, which then turned and killed him instantly.
“The pistol used in the incident remains missing but police are aware of who is in possession of it, so arrests will be made soon,” he said.
Wampe said investigations were still going on with reliable information coming in as a result of good cooperation from Asariufa community leaders.
William Morea, a youth from Sinasina, Chimbu, was shot dead by the Chinese man.
In retaliation, relatives killed him on the spot.
The deaths occurred at around 8pm last Saturday at the Asariufa section of the Highlands Highway.
Police stepped up operations not only in Goroka but in the neighbouring Kainantu town to contain opportunists who may try to loot shops.
The Seng Da chain of supermarkets and other Asian business outlets in Goroka remained closed yesterday.

Chinese killed fighting rapists

By ZACHERY PER

THE Chinese national killed in Goroka over the weekend fired shots to disperse thugs raping his female passengers and looting his vehicle, Goroka police said yesterday, The National reports.
Initial police investigations showed the man, his friend and two females were struggling to push their mini-dyna truck out of the drain, after it went off the road, when opportunists and thugs converged on them.
The thugs raped the female passengers, robbed them of cash, mobile phones and other valuable items, Eastern Highlands provincial police commander Supt Augustine Wampe said.
He said Alex Seng Da then fired the shot from his pistol that hit a youth in the crowd, which then turned and killed him instantly.
“The pistol used in the incident remains missing but police are aware of who is in possession of it, so arrests will be made soon,” he said.
Wampe said investigations were still going on with reliable information coming in as a result of good cooperation from Asariufa community leaders.
William Morea, a youth from Sinasina, Chimbu, was shot dead by the Chinese man.
In retaliation, relatives killed him on the spot.
The deaths occurred at around 8pm last Saturday at the Asariufa section of the Highlands Highway.
Police stepped up operations not only in Goroka but in the neighbouring Kainantu town to contain opportunists who may try to loot shops.
The Seng Da chain of supermarkets and other Asian business outlets in Goroka remained closed yesterday.