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PNG Organic Fairtrade
Coffee News
May/June 2005
PUROSA COFFEE
Papua New Guinea
Certified organic and Fairtrade registered green coffee
Profile on the Highlands
Organic Agriculture Co-operative Limited (HOAC) (FLO. I.D
2897) in conjunction with the exporter Coffee Connections
Limited (FLO. I.D. 3120).
NASAA organic certification 8081P, NASAA/JAS certified,
NASAA/NOP(USDA)
certified and Fairtrade registered.
The Purosa region is a picturesque area of the Eastern Highlands
Province of Papua New Guinea where plentiful rain and rich
volcanic soils provide ideal growing conditions for traditional
varieties of arabica coffee.
Purosa is the nucleus for a range of coffee and community
activities and is located 93 kilometres south west of Goroka
township, the capital of the Eastern Highlands Province.
Rainfall can be up to 3.5 metres per annum and because the roads
are not sealed and gravel is scarce, villages are usually only
comfortably accessed in the "dry" season being June through
September coinciding with the peak coffee harvest period.
As the area is isolated and difficult to access it was decided
some years ago to follow an organic coffee stream so as to add
value to the coffee and to compensate for the difficult access
and the historically low prices persisting at that time. With
the recent introduction of Fairtrade coffee to the area there
has been a burst of enthusiasm by growers to contribute to the
Fairtrade program.
Background to the Purosa Fairtrade Coffee
The Fairtrade co-operative grower group is a legal entity
registered in PNG under the Co-operative Societies Act 1985. The
group chose the name Highlands Organic Agriculture Co-operative
Ltd (HOAC) because sometime in the future other certified
organic products such as vanilla and spices may be added to the
list of exports.
There are presently 2604 village farmers registered and living
amongst the 32 village communities spread over 500 square
kilometers in the Purosa valley region. These growers support
about 12,000 family members and, as interest grows, it is
expected that a further 5,000 growers will sign up with the HOAC
over the next two years. Coffee is the only cash crop for these
people apart from a few local vegetables.
The HOAC/Fairtrade members are all village growers who tend
their small plots of coffee and individually process in their
villages following organic and sustainable agricultural
practices. Central processing facilities for cherry coffee have
not evolved because of the long distance that needs to be
traveled. The construction of these facilities may come in the
future as road access improves.
The impact of Fairtrade registration.
It took two years to form the co-operative group and satisfy the
Fairtrade registration requirements. During that period and
without any premium returning to the growers, observers have
noted a new sense of cohesion and co-operation within the Purosa
communities.
Fairtrade registration has brought the growers together in a
common cause of development through self-help. The future looks
a whole lot brighter for them because of Fairtrade.
Aims and Objectives of the Co-operative.
The aims and objectives of the co-operative were determined at
their annual meeting held in November 2004. These are set down
as follows:-
- Improvement of roads through the introduction of community
responsibility for minor road maintenance in respective clan
areas.
- Introduction of programs to help community schools with text
books and desks to be distributed amongst the 20 primary schools
in the Purosa/Okapa district.
- Support to four health centres and aid posts through provision
of beds and mattresses for the sick plus essential medical
drugs.
- Support of community groups particularly women's groups.
Expected coffee production in 2005
Tree counts from the registered grower group coffee indicate a
production potential of between 1000 and 1250 tonnes during the
2005 season. Usually there is adequate transport available from
Okapa junction to Goroka but the smaller feeder roads can only
be serviced by tractor and trailer or, as a last resort, by
people carrying small quantities of parchment coffee on their
back for one or two days. These constraints presently limit the
full potential of the area.
Future prospects
The future looks a whole lot better today. As the popularity of
this exquisite coffee grows and sales increase, the benefits
will flow back to the growers from the Purosa region in Papua
New Guinea.
In our next update we hope to be able to provide photographic
evidence of the progress that is underway.
Thank you for being part of it!
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Contact :
craig@coffeeconnections.biz
Coffee Connections
Ltd
PO Box 529
Goroka, EHP, Papua New Guinea
Phone +675 732-1677
Fax +675 732 2154
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