The charismatic Papua New Guinean can keep people wide awake for hours, discussing coffee and the issues affecting growers in his country.
The 30-year-old was in Dunedin yesterday as part of Fair Trade Fortnight (May 5-20) - a nationwide tour, to speak with coffee drinkers and coffee roasters in a bid to secure more trade with New Zealand for fellow Papua New Guinea coffee growers.
His knowledge comes from a background in growing cocoa, copra and coffee, which is blended with a degree in agriculture, gained from his local Unitec in Lae, Papua New Guinea.
Now, he is an extension officer for the Coffee Industry Corporation, a government support body for coffee growers which provides technical advice and support to farmers about quality control, improving production techniques and coffee yields, as well as supporting farmers across organisational activities and sustainable farm management.
Mr Toliman has supported more than 400 Neknasi coffee growers in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea to get organised in a co-operative - the Neknasi Coffee Growers' Co-operative - and achieve Fair Trade certification.
His role with both organisations has led to the establishment of a more sustainable and profitable way of growing their coffee, and has opened global markets, including New Zealand.
Papua New Guinea is one of New Zealand's closest coffee growing regions, known for its rich biodiversity and its distinctive Arabica shade grown coffee.
Up to 85% of Papua New Guinea coffee is grown and produced by small holder farmers on garden plots in the mountainous highland regions.
Mr Toliman said he was in Dunedin to thank New Zealanders for choosing fair trade, which benefits his community.
He also praised Dunedin, New Zealand's first Fair Trade city, for helping to change attitudes to fair trade across the country.
It meant the average income of coffee farmers in Papua New Guinea was now increasing beyond the $NZ400 per year they used to earn for their work, he said.
Fair Trade retail sales in New Zealand increased 24% in 2011 to a record $45.4 million - some of which will trickle back to coffee farmers in Papua New Guinea.
"Fair Trade brings everyone in the industry together.
"Farmers have better healthcare, better education and better income.
"The average coffee bean farmer earns about NZ$400 per year.
"With a minimum fair trade price, their lives have improved so much.
"Farmers are now beginning to see an increase in their livelihood."
