Chuave, Chimbu Province | Thursday, 15 May 2025 — Coffee farmers in the Chimbu district of Chuave received a significant boost on Thursday, 15 May 2025, with the official opening of a new coffee storage and processing shed owned by Peter Sali Coffee Ltd.The project is backed by K735,000 in funding from the Papua New Guinea Government through Coffee Industry Corporation Ltd (CICL) under the PNG Agriculture Commercialization and Diversification (PACD) Project initiative, with critical technical and financial support from the World Bank. It is expected to benefit over 504 smallholder coffee producers and stands as a model for future public-private partnerships in the country’s agricultural sector.
The event, held at the project site, brought together World Bank representatives, provincial leaders, Coffee Industry Corporation Ltd (CICL) officials, and hundreds of enthusiastic farmers. The occasion also saw the handover of coffee pulpers, secateurs, and seedlings to project farmers, and opening of the coffee storage shed, laying the foundation for enhanced production of coffee in this region.
Strengthening Rural Coffee Value Chains
CIC-PACD Project Manager Mr Potaisa Hombunaka said the project was about more than just infrastructure—it was about building sustainable rural economies.
“This is not just a shed — it’s a gateway to opportunity,” Mr Hombunaka said. “The PACD Project is investing in real people with real potential. Through structured support, transparent reporting, and strict accountability, we’re helping communities build quality-driven, market-oriented coffee enterprises.”
He emphasised that funding is released in tranches, based on tangible progress and verified results. “Peter Sali Coffee Ltd is receiving support because it is meeting milestones and engaging farmers in ways that align with the project’s goals — better coffee, better incomes, and better lives.”
World Bank Highlights Shared Responsibility
In his address, World Bank PACD Team Leader Mr Allan Oliver described the project as a powerful example of multi-level partnership.
“This is a partnership between the farmers, the lead partner, the Government of Papua New Guinea through CICL, and the World Bank,” Mr Oliver said. “But even more importantly, it is a partnership within families. When husbands and wives work together, they build stronger households and better livelihoods.”
He encouraged farmers to take ownership of the tools, skills, and opportunities delivered through the project. “This is the beginning of a much bigger journey. You now have the seedlings, the training, the shed, and soon the wet mill. You must use these tools not just to grow coffee — but to grow your family’s future.”
Mr Oliver also noted that the PACD Project is nearing its conclusion and urged farmers to prepare for what comes next. “While the project is still here, think together about how best you can get ready for the future — so that when it ends, you are not lost, but equipped to grow your business independently.”
Looking Ahead
CICL will support Peter Sali Coffee Ltd in the future with export licensing and regulatory compliance, paving the way for locally produced coffee to reach international buyers directly.
Mr Hombunaka urged Chuave farmers to remain focused and committed. “Let’s not stop here. We must aim to replicate this success across Chuave, Chimbu, and the Highlands. With support from CICL, the World Bank, and — most importantly — the farmers themselves, we are building a coffee economy from the ground up — bean by bean, bag by bag.”
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