PAPUA NEW GUINEA
- REGION: Eastern Highlands Province, Purosa
- PRODUCER: Highlands Organic Agricultural Co-Operative (HOAC)
- PROCESS METHOD: Fully Washed
- ALTITUDE: 1300 - 1750m above sea level
- VARIETAL: Typica, Bourbon and Arusha
Currently consisting of 2,600 members, HOAC is one of the oldest Fairtrade certified organisations. The premium received from Fairtrade has gone towards creating better road access into HOAC, which has been its primary concern. This has not only allowed better access for locals and emergency vehicles but has created much needed jobs for residents living along the road to keep it maintained.
Education for the next generation is a key concern for the area, with only 50% of Papuans achieving three years of education. By building four permanent elementary schools and purchasing textbooks and desks from their premium, HOAC are on their way to achieving higher education.
HOAC members live in the remote highlands of the island where they cultivate Typica, Bourbon and Arusha varieties. At HOAC the Fairtrade Premium supports a number of projects democratically chosen by the members of the cooperative:
- Investment in local transport infrastructure. One of the major concerns for growers and the local communities in the area around HOAC is poor road access, making it difficult for them to trade their produce. A proportion of HOAC's Fairtrade Premium was allocated to the improvement of the local roads and to cover the cost of the petrol to run the grading machines. The improvement in the road network has created a business bonanza for small coffee farmers, and permitted better access to education and health services for locals
- Much needed text books and desks have been provided to 20 primary schools in the Purosa/Okapa district.
- Beds, mattresses and essential medicines have been provided to four Health Centres and aid posts.
- A portable sawmill was purchased to provide farmers with the means to build coffee washing and drying infrastructure. With this new infrastructure, coffee farmers are able to improve the quality of their produce and keep more of the processing stages locally increasing the value of their produce.
