Port Moresby, 24 March 2025 – The Coffee Minister, Hon. William Bando, delivered a passionate speech in Parliament on Friday, March 21, 2025, responding to a question from the Member for Goroka, Hon. Aiye Tambua, regarding the plight of coffee farmers in rural Papua New Guinea . His comprehensive response presented a bold and optimistic vision for revitalising the nation’s coffee industry, a sector that has long been the lifeline of many communities.
“Coffee supports approximately 450,000 households across PNG, which translates to around three million individuals,” Minister Bando stated with conviction. While oil palm has surpassed coffee as the leading agricultural export, he firmly emphasised that coffee remains a crop owned by the people of Papua New Guinea.
“Unlike oil palm, which is largely controlled by foreign interests, coffee is owned by our people – by Papua New Guineans,” he affirmed. “This government, under the leadership of the Marape-Rosso administration, has established a dedicated ministry to focus specifically on coffee and its critical role in our economy.”
Minister Bando outlined the historical challenges faced by coffee farmers, particularly the failure of previous freight subsidy programmes, which were managed under the Department of Agriculture and did not effectively reach the intended beneficiaries. However, he declared a significant shift in the government’s approach.
“This year, the government has allocated between K80 million and K90 million for various coffee-related initiatives, including freight support, price support, trade support, and plantation rehabilitation. Of this funding, K10 million has been earmarked for price support alone, which will be paid directly to the smallholders and block holders – the hardworking individuals who toil relentlessly on the land.”
A groundbreaking part of the initiative is the introduction of the Green Gold Card, an innovative system designed to enhance transparency and accountability in the distribution of financial assistance. Under this programme, farmers will be required to complete a detailed form, providing personal information, village, district, and bank account details.
“Once the form is lodged at coffee factories and entered into a national database, we will have a clear picture of who the genuine coffee farmers are – the people whose dedication brings Papua New Guinea’s coffee to the global market,” Minister Bando explained. “These are the individuals we intend to support, not the large-scale operators or corporate entities.”
He further emphasised that this new approach would encourage rural communities to focus on agriculture and move away from unsustainable means of income generation. “When we adequately support our farmers, we will see fewer of our people resorting to street vending. They will return to their rightful inheritance – the land.”
Minister Bando concluded his address with an inspiring assurance of his confidence in the new measures. “This is a paradigm shift. We are creating a future where our citizens are justly rewarded for their hard work. To all coffee farmers across the nation, this government has not forgotten you. The future of Papua New Guinea’s coffee industry is bright, and we are resolute in making it work for our people.”
This uplifting message is bound to inspire hope and determination among coffee farmers throughout Papua New Guinea, as they are reminded that their efforts are finally being acknowledged and appreciated by a government determined to improve their livelihoods.