Ethiopia is the origin of coffee Arabica. Around 15 million Ethiopian farmers (16 percent of the population), earn a living from a coffee farm, as various sources show. The coffee trees in most places have, however, become less productive due to aging.
The country has started replacing the old coffee trees with new and yet improved young seedlings. The task lasted for one month, June 1, 2019-July 1,2019.
The plan was to plant 1.5 million improved species of coffee saplings across the length and breadth of the country. Reports are yet to come out regarding their achievements.
It is likely that the country’s global coffee market penetration will grow by leaps and bounds when the young plants start to give yields in three years, says Ethiopian Coffee, Tea and Spices Authority Extension Director Berhanu Tsegaye in an interview with The Ethiopian Herald.
Reports compiled over the last 12 months shows that Ethiopia has produced 494,000 tons of coffee, and the plan is that the current activity will push production to 800,000 tons, he notes.
Respective entities at the major coffee growing areas carry out, each year, coffee sapling planting that covers an aggregate of 250 to 300 ha. “The effort is likely to increase production by 50,000 tons annually.”
Old coffee trees mainly found in coffee origins such as southwestern part of the country including Jimma, Kefffa, Masho, West Wollega, and Illubabor, and the southeastern part, around Bale, as well as in two districts in each of Benishangul Gumuz and the Gambella States.
The old coffee trees cover around 700,000 hectares of land.The new coffee seedlings, 90 percent, have been planted in these places, he adds.
Pruning the Arabica trees is also another alternative being applied to increase productivity. Hence, trees covering 59, 000 ha land will be pruned, he adds.
An important question at this juncture is: Do the improved seeds bring about the desired results?
Researches on improved coffee varieties have been online for the last forty years, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research Crop Director Dr. Taye Tadesse stresses.
Moreover, the select or improved species, released thus far, are disease resistant and productive. Around 6,700 gene banks, established in different parts of the country, have stored genes of the old coffee varieties.
The research programs that have
been conducted in cooperation with Jimma Agricultural Research Center along
with other partners brought better results. In the process, care has been given
to align the improved seeds with the agro-ecology of specific areas to ensure
the desired results—i.e., quality products and increased productivity, he said.
Also, farmers will get technical assistance and will be familiarized with new agricultural technology, according to him.
The research works so far have brought results. And 42 improved coffee species have been released, according to Lemi Beksisa, Coffee Researcher and National Coffee and Tea Research Coordinator at Jimma Agricultural Research Center.
To facilitate such and other similar activities, around eight NGOs, are lending hands, he says, adding that the entities have installed 8.9 million Birr which has been used to effectuate the conservation activities and to purchase agricultural inputs, according to Berhanu.
“Also, some 11, 000 coffee farmers have been offered with skills training,” he noted.
The Ethiopian Herald July 19/2019
BY MISGANAW ASNAKE
