The passage of the Coffee Industry Bill marks a significant step in Papua New Guinea’s efforts to revitalise one of its most important export sectors. Coffee provides income for hundreds of thousands of smallholder farmers, particularly in the Highlands, yet the industry has long faced challenges in productivity, market coordination and quality consistency.
The new legislation updates governance structures and institutional responsibilities across the coffee value chain. It introduces strengthened quality assurance systems designed to improve consistency in grading and post-harvest handling, enabling producers to secure higher premiums in international specialty markets. Papua New Guinea’s unique coffee profiles are already valued by roasters, but inconsistent processing has historically limited price competition.
A key feature of the Bill is support for cooperative development. Many smallholders currently operate independently, which limits bargaining power. Encouraging producer groups may enable shared processing investments, improved storage and coordinated export contracting.
Exporters have welcomed the reforms while noting that logistical challenges remain. Poor road conditions, security risks and transport costs continue to impact the movement of crops from remote areas to export points. Addressing these constraints will require coordination between national agencies and provincial governments.
Development partners are likely to continue supporting the sector through training, certification schemes and market linkage programmes. The ultimate success of the Bill will depend on implementation and the extent to which benefits flow to rural communities.
