COFFEE continues to grow in East New Britain (ENB), with Pomio producing coffee in bulk and placing the province first in the New Guinea Islands (NGI), according to Coffee Industry Corporation (CIC) NGI regional coordinator July Woiwoi.
Woiwoi said Papua New Guinea grew the two main types of coffee, Arabica and Robusta, which thrive in different climatic conditions with ENB having potential to grow both.
“We have two species – Arabica grows in cooler climates while Robusta grows in warmer climates,” he said.
“The NGI can grow both species.”
Coffee was introduced in ENB as an alternative to cocoa and coconut, and it has become a key source of income for many rural households and smallholder farmers across the province.
ENB now leads coffee production in the NGI, with Pomio contributing the largest share of output.
Production is also slowly expanding into other districts, with nursery programmes being rolled out in Rabaul and Kokopo.
Woiwoi said coffee remained an important economic crop for both the province and the region.
He added that although the industry continued to face challenges, especially in marketing and maintaining consistent production, efforts were being made to strengthen the sector through group marketing.
This initiative was supported by CIC and the Division of Agriculture and Livestock Industry to help farmers access better markets and improve returns.
“Production in the province has not been steady. But, over the past three years, we’ve seen production gradually pick up with 35 tons exported last year,” Woiwoi said.
Efforts were ongoing to build farmer capacity and improve coffee quality so the industry can continue to grow sustainably and benefit more rural communities across the province.
