What is the Marape Agricultural Credit Scheme?

Farming in Papua New Guinea (PNG) just got a big boost! Prime Minister James Marape has launched an exciting new program called the Marape Agricultural Credit Scheme, designed to help farmers and agribusinesses thrive. So, what’s the Marape Agricultural Credit Scheme all about?

A farmer's nursery - WHP

 A Helping Hand for Farmers

This program offers long-term, low-interest loans to farmers and businesses involved in agriculture. That means you can get the funds you need to grow crops, raise animals, or even process food. And here’s the great part: you’ll have up to 40 years to pay it back! 

To get started, you’ll need to approach the National Development Bank or partner banks with your plans and proof that you’re actively farming. 

FARMING STORIES IN PNG

Big Goals: Marape Agricultural Credit Scheme

The scheme isn’t just about lending money—it’s about transforming PNG’s agriculture. Here’s what it’s aiming to do:

• Cut down on the K2 billion spent every year importing food from other countries.
• Help one million farming families make a living through agriculture.
• Create jobs in areas like transport, logistics, and food processing.
• Grow more food locally and even export some to nearby countries.

Soil preparation for potato farming

Marape's Dream Work 

The program also calls for collaboration. Provincial governments, cooperatives, and local communities are encouraged to partner with the national government to revitalize farmland and set up organized farming systems. 

Why It Matters PNG is looking to shift its economy away from mining and focus more on sustainable industries like farming. This is about building a future where farmers can succeed, families can thrive, and the whole nation can benefit. 

If you’re a farmer or part of an agribusiness, this could be your chance to grow something amazing—not just for yourself but also for your community.

Coffee Industry Corporation (CIC) and Department of Education Implement Coffee Curriculum

COFFEE CURRICULUM READY FOR IMPLEMENTATION

The Coffee Curriculum, the 2nd Edition for Grades 6-12 under the Standard Based Curriculum (SBC) is ready for implementation.

About 3,000 copies of Teachers Handbooks and Teachers Resource Books have been printed after being designed by a local company in Port Moresby, NAGISOVE Graphics.

These books will later be shipped or air freighted to Goroka in Eastern Highlands province for launching and its implementation in schools around the country, especially schools in Coffee producing provinces.

After all these, the hardest part now is for the Coffee Industry Corporation (CIC) to continue to work with the Department of Education (DoE) to ensure the Curriculum is taught and or institutionalized in schools.

All these could not have been done without the support of a lot of people including the

• CIC Curriculum Officer Mr. Leo Kepa Aroga,
• hard-working Officers of DoE Curriculum Development Division, 
• Gordon Wallanges of UOG, 
• CIC-PPAP funded Curriculum Consultant, 
• Dr. Arnold Parapi and 
• others who tirelessly worked on this project.

By Roderick MANDAU/PNG FM News

Papua New Guinea Coffee Unique Taste Begs More Export

Do you know that PNG produces the best coffee among the organic coffee producing nations in the World? The recent competition revealed that it was highly ranked. 

In a tasting competition in the United States of America in 2013 PNG was ranked third, that is 3rd, in the World among the best samples collected and tested by ECOM.

Papua New Guinea Coffee

PNG Coffee - some of the best coffee on the market. #PNG #Coffee pic.twitter.com/NaYet5vsCG

— PNG Insight (@PNG_Insight) February 17, 2018

ECOM International coffee competition ranks PNG high

ECOM is an organisation promoting small coffee growers around the World. The ECOM competition is not only a ranking venture, but also a recognition adventure. The statement below is what the World Finance Corporation (WFC) said about the ECOM vision.

"IFC has worked with ECOM Coffee Group, a global leader in the coffee trade, to help small coffee farmers meet international certification standards, improve sustainability and productivity of crops, and increase their earnings."

Read the full article here.

Sihereni coffee estate

The the Sihereni coffee estate, owned and operated by David Orimarie in the Kwonghi area of Upper Asaro Local Level Government in Daulo District of Eastern Highlands Province was ranked in the top 5!

This is not about the owner, nor is it about Eastern Highlands Province (I am not from the E.H.P to say this). It is about Papua New Guinea Coffee!

Papua New Guinea Coffee is one of the best in the World 

Imagine exposing the Simbu Coffee, or Hagen Coffee, or Wabag Coffee, or Morobe Coffee or Kerema Coffee to market in Europe, the Americas or central Asia? The market out there is going to go 'wild' about the TASTE of the coffee produced in those areas.

If you are from a coffee growing area, you may leave a comment below (or tweet PNG Insight). Tell me if PNG Coffee has gotten its fair share of the World's coffee market.

Blast from the recent past | Goroka Coffee Ranked Third in World Competition

Quality coffee produced by a local coffee producer was ranked third in an international coffee cupping competition in the United States of America recently.

The Sihereni coffee estate, owned and operated by David Orimarie in the Kwonghi area of Upper Asaro Local Level Government in Daulo District of Eastern Highlands Province won the 3rd placing among a total of 30 coffee samples of different coffee producing countries collected by Ecom Trading around the world.

The coffee was tasted and certified by the Rainforest Alliance under “The Best of Ecom Coffee” competition using cupping standards of the Specialty Coffee Association of America.

During a recent announcement of the award at the Heaven Resort in Goroka, managing director of Monpi Coffee Exports,Chris Anders expressed great satisfaction on the achievement. Monpi Coffee Exports is a subsidiary of Ecom Trading, an international commodity trading company. Anders said, the result reflects the commitment and persistency of Orimarie to achieve top quality coffee.

“Sihereni’s achievement is an achievement of the PNG coffee industry,” said Anders.

Orimarie acquired the 22 hectares estate planted with a mixture of Arusha and Blue Mountain, in 2002 and has been in partnership with the Monpi Coffee Exports to improve his wet mill and acquire advice on agronomy, better business practice and seek niche markets. He expressesed great satisfaction on the achievement and attributed the achievement to Monpi Coffee Exports for the much needed advice and guidance.

“Quality control is the basis of our operation. Quality control standards have been established and are made sure they are maintained at all times,” said Orimarie in a previous media report written by reporter James Kila.

The report states that Sihereni has developed quickly to gain more reputation in the international and local coffee and finance community through its initiatives to produce quality coffee and practice good financial management.

The coffee samples from Sihereni scored 85 points and was described as having the taste of; melon, black tea, grapefruit, intense fruit, herby, tomato soup, sweet, bright acidity, medium body, adds grapefruit and floras in finish as cools.

Manager for Industry Regulation and Compliance at the Coffee Industry Corporation,Sam Menanga, shared similar sentiments and urged other coffee companies to follow suit in producing quality coffee to attract niche markets.

From POST COURIER

Fri 25 Oct 2013