The Papua Tengah (Central Papua) provincial government is stepping up efforts to develop its coffee industry, combining a large-scale seedling programme with plantation renewal, farmer training and new market opportunities in a bid to improve rural incomes and make the province a more competitive coffee producer.
The strategy, led by Governor Meki Nawipa, includes plans to distribute 1.25 million coffee seedlings across eight regencies and expand or rejuvenate approximately 1,400 hectares of plantations. The provincial administration is also seeking to strengthen the position of farmers in the coffee supply chain, from cultivation and harvesting to processing, branding and sales.
The programme was outlined on October 29, 2026, when Nawipa opened the Papua Tengah Coffee Festival in Nabire. The two-day event, held on October 29 and 30 at the Aula KSKA in Bukit Meriam, brought together coffee farmers, local businesses, baristas, coffee shops and government representatives.
For the provincial government, the festival was intended to be more than a showcase for local products. It was designed as a meeting point where farmers could connect with buyers, learn about quality standards and explore ways to obtain better returns from their harvests.
Nawipa said coffee development must deliver direct economic benefits to local communities, particularly farmers.
“The Papua Tengah Provincial Government is committed to promoting coffee development so that the community, especially farmers, can directly experience its economic benefits,” he said during the opening ceremony, according to Nabire.net.
His ambition is to establish Papua Tengah as one of the leading coffee-producing areas in the wider Papua region, while ensuring that expansion in production is matched by improvements in quality, marketing and farmer welfare.
From Coffee Plantations to a Regional Economic Strategy
A crop with deep roots in Papua Tengah
Coffee is not a new commodity in Papua Tengah. Communities have cultivated Arabica coffee in the highland areas for generations, while lower-altitude and coastal areas are more commonly associated with Robusta.
The province has several locations with potential for coffee production. Arabica is grown in highland regencies such as Dogiyai, Deiyai, Paniai, Puncak, Puncak Jaya and Intan Jaya. Robusta cultivation is being developed in lower-lying areas, including Nabire and Timika.
This geographical diversity gives the province an opportunity to develop different coffee varieties and products, although each area requires cultivation methods suited to its local conditions.
Nawipa said the region’s coffee potential should be managed more seriously so that it can generate greater economic value for local communities. He wants Papua Tengah coffee to move beyond being known primarily as a local product and become competitive in national and international markets.
“Coffee is not a new commodity for Papua Tengah. Long before today, the fertile land in our highland areas had held extraordinary natural wealth. We know Arabica coffee, which has always been cultivated by communities from generation to generation, as well as Robusta in coastal areas,” he said, as reported by Cepos Online.
He added that the government wanted local coffee to become a source of pride and prosperity rather than remain an underdeveloped regional commodity.
The strategy reflects a broader economic objective. Instead of relying solely on the sale of raw agricultural products, the provincial government wants farmers and local businesses to capture more value through better processing, packaging, branding and distribution.
That shift could create opportunities beyond farming itself, including roasting, coffee shops, transport, packaging, equipment supply and tourism-related businesses.
1.25 Million Seedlings Planned for Eight Regencies
One of the programme’s largest components is the planned distribution of 1.25 million coffee seedlings across all eight regencies in Papua Tengah.
The initiative is intended to expand the area under cultivation, replace less productive plants and provide farmers with new planting material. It is being prepared through cooperation between the provincial and central governments.
The scale of the programme signals the administration’s intention to make coffee a more important part of the regional economy. However, the success of the initiative will depend on more than the number of seedlings distributed.
Farmers will need access to suitable planting sites, technical guidance, fertilisation and pest management support, as well as consistent follow-up to ensure that young plants survive and mature.
Nawipa has therefore emphasised the importance of agricultural extension workers in supporting farmers. Their role will include helping communities select suitable seedlings, manage plantations and improve productivity.
The provincial government also plans to coordinate with regents so that the distribution and development programme reflects the needs of each area rather than applying an identical approach everywhere.
Nawipa said that if coffee cultivation could be developed across the province’s districts, Papua Tengah could become one of the largest coffee-producing provinces in the Papua region.
The seedling programme is also part of a wider effort to develop other plantation commodities, including coconuts and cocoa. The provincial government sees coordination between provincial and regency administrations as essential for directing special financial assistance and agricultural programmes towards the commodities best suited to each area’s potential.
Plantation Expansion and Renewal Across Five Regencies
Alongside the seedling initiative, the provincial government is preparing an expansion and rejuvenation programme covering approximately 1,400 hectares of coffee plantations.
According to ANTARA, the proposed programme covers Nabire, Dogiyai, Paniai, Puncak Jaya and Intan Jaya. It is being processed through the 2026 regional budget, with implementation aligned with local proposals and provincial development priorities.
The initiative is intended to address two related needs: increasing the area available for coffee production and improving the productivity of existing plantations.
Plantation rejuvenation is important because older or poorly maintained coffee plants may produce lower yields and less consistent quality. Replacing unproductive plants, improving cultivation techniques and maintaining plantations can help farmers achieve more reliable harvests over time.
The provincial government has also reported that some coffee plantation development has already been carried out with support from the 2026 Special Autonomy Fund, known as Otsus.
The reported activities include nine hectares of plantation development in Intan Jaya, eight hectares in Puncak and eight hectares in Deiyai, bringing the total to 25 hectares.
In addition, four greenhouses are being built in Intan Jaya, Puncak Jaya, Paniai and Deiyai. These facilities are intended to support seedling development and cultivation activities under more controlled conditions.
The 25 hectares of reported development should be distinguished from the wider 1,400-hectare programme, which remains a planned expansion and rejuvenation initiative. The two figures describe different stages and components of the provincial strategy.
Training Farmers to Improve Quality and Productivity
The provincial administration recognises that expanding plantations will not automatically improve farmers’ incomes. To achieve higher production, farmers must also improve quality and meet market requirements.
For that reason, farmer training is another major part of the strategy.
The provincial government has outlined training in cultivation techniques, harvest and post-harvest management, processing of derivative products, coffee quality assessment, sensory evaluation, finished-product management, waste handling, business administration and marketing.
The Sustainable Coffee Platform of Indonesia (SCOPI) has been involved as a resource institution in training activities. Sessions have been conducted in several regencies, including Nabire, Dogiyai, Paniai, Intan Jaya, Puncak and Puncak Jaya.
The aim is to help farmers understand the entire production process, not simply the cultivation of coffee plants.
Good Agricultural Practices, or GAP, are central to this approach. These practices include appropriate plantation maintenance, proper pruning, harvesting ripe red coffee cherries and careful processing after harvest.
The handling of coffee after picking can have a major effect on the quality of the final product. Wet and dry processing methods, for example, require appropriate techniques and careful control to preserve the characteristics of the beans.
Consistent quality is particularly important if local coffee is to enter more demanding markets. Buyers need reliable products, clear quality standards and dependable supply.
By improving technical knowledge, the provincial government hopes farmers will become more skilled, innovative and independent in managing their plantations.
The strategy also recognises that farmers need business knowledge. Understanding production costs, product pricing, packaging and market demand can help them make better decisions and negotiate more effectively with buyers.
A 300-Farmer Development and Mentoring Plan
Beyond technical training, Nawipa has called for a more organised programme to support coffee farmers and strengthen their positions in the commercial supply chain.
Speaking at the festival, he announced plans to develop a coaching and mentoring programme for 300 coffee farmers, with the initiative expected to begin in 2026 and continue in the following years.
The programme is intended to provide regular assistance rather than one-off training sessions. It will cover the selection of suitable seeds, cultivation, plantation maintenance, harvesting and the preservation of coffee quality.
According to Suara Papua, the initial plan is to involve farmers from several regencies, with a target of approximately 50 participants from each area. The report identifies Nabire, Dogiyai, Deiyai, Paniai, Intan Jaya, Puncak and Puncak Jaya in its description of the proposed coverage.
Andrias Gobay, head of the Plantation Division at the Papua Tengah Plantation and Livestock Office and chairman of the 2026 festival committee, said the programme would be developed in stages.
He said the proposed mentoring activities would require an estimated minimum budget of Rp1 billion, although the full allocation and detailed funding arrangements would need further discussion.
The programme is expected to help farmers improve their technical skills while developing a more consistent approach to production and business management.
The government also wants to involve other organisations, including the Indonesian Coffee Association, to strengthen farmer networks and connect local producers with the wider coffee industry.
Tackling Market Access and the Role of Middlemen
One of the most important issues raised by Nawipa concerns the way coffee is marketed.
Farmers may produce high-quality beans, but their earnings can remain limited if they lack access to buyers, reliable distribution networks or the ability to negotiate prices.
Nawipa said farmers need to become part of organised business networks rather than operating independently.
“The pattern today is how to ensure that farmers are part of a network. One weakness among Papuans today is that after receiving money, they want to go their own way and do not want to build networks,” he said, as quoted by Suara Papua.
His comments were directed at the need for cooperation and stronger business relationships. He argued that agricultural enterprises are difficult to sustain when producers rely entirely on their own resources and have no dependable commercial partners.
The governor also raised concerns about long distribution chains involving middlemen. When farmers lack direct access to buyers, intermediaries can influence the prices they receive, potentially reducing the share of the final selling price that reaches producers.
The provincial government therefore wants to strengthen business institutions and marketing networks so that farmers can negotiate from a better position.
This could involve stronger cooperation between farmer groups, cooperatives, coffee shops, processors, distributors and larger buyers.
The broader objective is to make farmers active participants in the coffee trade rather than suppliers who have little influence over pricing and market access.
That shift will require sustained organisation. Farmer groups need transparent management, reliable production records and consistent quality if they are to build long-term relationships with commercial buyers.
Nabire Coffee Festival Opens a Door to New Markets
The Papua Tengah Coffee Festival, held on October 29 and 30, was designed to bring these different parts of the industry together.
Organised by the provincial Plantation and Livestock Office, the event involved farmers from the province’s eight regencies, coffee businesses, baristas and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, known as MSMEs.
Festival committee chairman Andreas Gobay said the event was intended to introduce local coffee products to the public while creating opportunities for farmers and business owners to promote their work.
He encouraged visitors to support local producers by purchasing their products.
“We invite everyone to buy the products of our farmers. Let us support the hard work of our farmers and the products offered by coffee shops and MSMEs,” Andreas said, according to ANTARA.
The programme included barista competitions, awards for the best exhibition stands and recognition for farmers with the largest coffee plantations.
These activities were designed to generate public interest in local coffee while giving producers an opportunity to learn from one another and present their products to potential customers.
The festival’s theme, From Coffee Gardens to the Cup, from Coffee Farmers for Papua Tengah, reflected the organisers’ intention to connect every stage of the coffee business.
Visitors could see how coffee moves from plantations to processing, preparation and sale. The presence of baristas and coffee businesses also gave farmers an opportunity to understand what consumers and retailers expect from the products they purchase.
For MSMEs, the event offered a platform to introduce products linked to the coffee industry and explore new commercial relationships.
The festival therefore served both as a promotional event and as an early step towards building a more integrated local coffee economy.
The Three-Year Test: Turning Investment into Farmer Welfare
Nawipa has said he hopes the benefits of the coffee development programme will begin to be felt by farmers within the next three years.
That expectation provides a practical timeframe for assessing whether the provincial strategy is delivering results.
The first indicators will include the successful distribution and survival of seedlings, the development of plantation areas, improved cultivation practices and stronger farmer participation in training.
Over time, more important measures will emerge: increased yields, better bean quality, more stable prices, improved access to buyers and higher net income for farming households.
The government will also need to ensure that the benefits are distributed across different districts and communities. The province’s geography means that transportation, access to agricultural services and market connections may vary significantly between locations.
Coordination between the provincial and regency governments will therefore be essential. Nawipa has stressed that budgets and development programmes must be aligned with the actual needs of farmers in each area.
There is also an environmental dimension. Expanding coffee production should be accompanied by sustainable land management, appropriate plantation maintenance and practices that protect soil and water resources.
If the programme succeeds, coffee could become an important source of rural economic activity while strengthening the role of local farmers and MSMEs in Papua Tengah’s development.
Conclusion
Papua Tengah’s coffee strategy is an attempt to move beyond increasing production and build an industry that gives farmers a stronger economic position.
The planned distribution of 1.25 million seedlings, the proposed expansion and rejuvenation of approximately 1,400 hectares, the development of greenhouses, farmer mentoring and the promotion of local products through the Nabire festival all form part of that ambition.
Governor Meki Nawipa emphasises that coffee must generate direct benefits for the people who cultivate it. That requires not only better plantations but also stronger business networks, improved processing, reliable market access and closer cooperation between farmers, government and private-sector partners.
The challenge now is implementation. Seedlings must grow, training must lead to better practices, and market opportunities must translate into fairer returns for producers.
If these elements are connected effectively, Papua Tengah’s coffee sector could become a stronger contributor to household incomes, local enterprise and regional economic growth.
The future of the industry will ultimately be measured not only by how much coffee the province produces but also by whether the people who grow it enjoy a more secure and prosperous livelihood.
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