The Purosa region is a picturesque area of the Eastern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea where plentiful rain and rich volcanic soils provide ideal growing conditions for traditional varieties of arabica coffee. Purosa is the nucleus for a range of coffee and community activities and is located 93 kilometres south west of Goroka township, the capital of the Eastern Highlands Province.

Rainfall can be up to 3.5 metres per annum and because the roads are not sealed and gravel is scarce, villages are usually only comfortably accessed in the "dry" season from June through September, coinciding with the peak coffee harvest period.

As the area is isolated and difficult to access it was decided some years ago to follow an organic coffee stream so as to add value to the coffee and to compensate for the difficult access and the historically low prices persisting at that time. With the recent introduction of Fairtrade coffee to the area there has been a burst of enthusiasm by growers to contribute to the Fairtrade program.

Background to the Purosa Fairtrade Coffee

The Fairtrade co-operative grower group is a legal entity registered in PNG under the Co-operative Societies Act 1985. The group chose the name Highlands Organic Agriculture Co-operative Ltd (HOAC) because sometime in the future other certified organic products such as vanilla and spices may be added to the list of exports.

There are presently over 2,500 village farmers registered and living amongst the 32 village communities spread over 500 square kilometers in the Purosa valley region. These growers support about 12,000 family members and it is expected that thousands more growers will sign up with the HOAC over time. Coffee is the only cash crop for these people apart from a few local vegetables.

The HOAC/Fairtrade members are all village growers who tend their small plots of coffee and individually process the harvest in their villages following organic and sustainable agricultural practices. Central processing facilities for cherry coffee have not evolved because of the long distance that needs to be traveled. The construction of these facilities may come in the future as road access improves.

The aims and objectives of the co-operative were determined at their annual meeting held in November 2004. These are set down as follows:-
• Improvement of roads through the introduction of community responsibility for minor road maintenance in respective clan areas.
• Introduction of programs to help community schools with text books and desks to be distributed amongst the 20 primary schools in the Purosa/Okapa district.
• Support to four health centres and aid posts through provision of beds and mattresses for the sick plus essential medical drugs.
• Support of community groups, particularly women's groups.

Bercat

Bercat Pty Ltd imports, roasts and packs the PNG coffee for New Internationalist. Bercat specialises in organic and Fair Trade coffees and teas, and supports sustainable agriculture, organic farming, environmental protection, and fair trade for smaller farmers and producers in developing countries and Australia.