ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopian National Coffee Association has urged private sectors to join hands in producing quality coffee, exporting, and generating adequate revenue through contributing knowledge, finance and skill.
Ethiopian National Coffee Association President, Hussein Ambo (PhD) told The Ethiopian Herald that about 30% to 40% of Ethiopia’s coffee is exported to European countries meeting the European Union’s deforestation free regulation (EUDR).
However, he said that concerted effort among private sectors and technology assisted production is necessary to boost productivity and ensure adequate and sustainable benefit of actors in the coffee supply chain.
Ethiopia grows coffee on 1.2 million hectares of land while complying with EUDR requires knowledge, technology, finance, time, and other resources. Therefore, the active involvement of private sectors is essential to achieve sustainable advantages, Hussein noted.
He pointed out that his association incorporates coffee producers, roasters, exporters and suppliers with an ambition to employ concerted efforts to process and export the product with quality and volume.
Ethiopian Coffee Association President, Dessalegn Jena expressed that exporting value added coffee product helps the country to earn better and build the confidence of its international recipients.
Therefore, he stressed that developmental partners, private sectors, farmers, and exporters need to work collectively to supply quality coffee beans to the global market and create meaningful impact in the sector.
He added that over 3 million coffee farmers are working with the association in Oromia, Sidama, and South West states. The association primarily supports the farmers since they produce 95 % of total coffee product.
As to Hussien, the association is always keen to work in close with the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority in addressing coffee sector bottlenecks including logistic problems.
BY MESERET BEHAILU
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SUNDAY EDITION 24 NOVEMBER 2024
