Prominent Lawyer and coffee enthusiast Ms Margareth Parua has commended the move by Coffee Minister William Bando for introducing the Coffee Bill to Parliament.
“ I congratulate the Minister for Coffee, Hon. William Bando, for taking the bold step of introducing the Coffee Bill to Parliament. This is a reform the country has been waiting for.
“For more than three decades, the industry has been held back under an outdated and stagnant institutional setup. While our rural farmers have continued to work tirelessly to keep their livelihoods alive, the system around them has not evolved to support growth, innovation or fair market participation.
“ The introduction of the Coffee Bill signals a much-needed shift in direction. It represents a clear commitment to rebuild the industry from the ground up — to strengthen governance, professionalise market systems, ensure farmers receive greater value, and position Papua New Guinea coffee to compete confidently and at a premium on the international stage.
“ Coffee is not just a crop. In the Highlands and Momase regions, coffee pays school fees, keeps families afloat, and sustains entire communities. It is the backbone of rural economies. We cannot continue allowing this sector to drift while our people struggle.
“ This move by Minister Bando is decisive, timely, and necessary. Leadership like this is how national progress begins.
“I strongly support this reform and encourage growers, processors, traders and policymakers to stand behind this change. The future of PNG coffee must be built with clarity, transparency, and real purpose,” Ms Parua said in a press statement today.