The Kimel plantation was first established in 1974 by an Australian named Bobby Gibbs but it is now owned by locals from the Opais tribe. The estate is located in the Western highlands in the Wahgi valley approximately 50km south of Mount Hagen. The elevation of the estate is 5200ft above sea level and the soil is mostly sandy loam. The temperature ranges from 6 degree Celsius to 29 degree Celsius and the annual rainfall is approximately 260 to 270 mm. The estate has some 620 hectares under production and the cultivation is conducted under shade trees such as albizias and gravilleas. The main varietals under production are Mondonovo, Blue Mountain, Tipica, Arusha, Caturra, and Catimor. Although locally owned, the plantation is managed by expatriates with extensive experience in plantation management who are appointed by the local directors. The plantation has a permanent workforce of 432 people who are housed on the estate and provided with schooling for the children and medical facilities. Since the estate is located along the Kimel river, it has access to good clean water for the processing of its crop. The estate’s management has also implemented the use of organic fertilizer (the coffee pulp itself) and the recycling of water used during wet processing.