Wantok Coffee News

MEMBERS of a coffee cooperative in Eastern Highlands benefitted greatly from a financial literacy training conducted in Goroka recently, an official says. Okapa-based Kanite Coffee Cooperative chairman Jonah Anago said they had a better understanding now on how to manage their income.
The training was conducted by the Eastern Highlands Small-Medium Enterprise coordination office. Anago said the members made a lot of money since the inception in early 2000 but did not know how to manage their money properly.

“I thank the provincial SME office for giving us the chance to participate in the financial literacy training and SME Expo,” Anago said.

He said more than 200 members of the cooperative would be trained on working out expenses, profits and loss account and general bookkeeping.
Anago said due to the remoteness of the area in Okapa, many members lacked basic financial literacy skills. The cooperative was founded in 2009 at Kemeu village in the West Okapa local level government by the villagers after being told that Government assistance would not be given to individuals but to organised groups.

“We (then) formed the Kanite (ccoperative). We cleared roads, build and maintain classrooms and health facilities, and general community work,” he said.

The Coffee Industry Corporation assisted the group on coffee projects. Members participated in a coffee cupping competition in Port Moresby in 2014.

They won the cupping competition and received K10, 000 cash.