Coffee cultivation brews new income opportunities for Ngemah farmers

KANOWIT (Jan 30): Coffee is brewing new economic opportunities in Ngemah, with growing interest among farmers turning the crop into a promising source of income for rural communities.

Ngemah assemblyman Anyi Jana said initiatives by the Agriculture Department, including the provision of modern processing equipment, have spurred interest in coffee cultivation while boosting production efficiency.

He said agricultural development remains a key priority in his constituency, adding that programmes supporting high-value crops such as coffee would contribute to strengthening the local economy.

“The introduction of coffee bean hullers will help farmers process coffee berries more efficiently compared to traditional methods which are time-consuming.

“This will directly improve productivity and income potential,” he said before presenting two coffee bean hullers to two farmers from Ulu Pedai and Ulu Mapai at Kanowit District Agriculture Office here onThursday.

Anyi expressed confidence that local coffee farmers would overcome cultivation challenges through their dedication and enthusiasm.

He also urged the Agriculture Department to continue assisting farmers with product marketing to secure better market access.

Kanowit district agriculture officer Nicholas Jati said there are currently 19 Liberica coffee farmers in the district, 18 of whom are in the Ngemah state constituency, with around 12,518 coffee trees planted across Kanowit.

He noted that dried Liberica coffee beans currently fetch between RM16 and RM20 per kilogramme, while Liberica coffee powder commands higher prices of RM35 to RM60 per kilogramme.

Nicholas added that coffee trees can produce beans year-round and remain productive for up to 20 years, making them a viable long-term economic crop for farmers.

“Under the state’s Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, the Sarawak government continues to encourage the cultivation of food and economic crops to strengthen food security and improve rural incomes,” he said.