Being home to agrarian society, agriculture is widely exercised in Ethiopia producing a number of crops such as cereals, oil seeds, fruits and vegetables and even cash crops. Of the multitude of produces, coffee is one of the most widely internationally traded commodities, and has become one of the most and prime contributors to the national economy of its place of origin. Though patience is a virtue in agriculture, people need to eat. However, coffee plants take several years to bear fruit and become productive.
The Ethiopian Herald approached Kedir Hundaol, an agriculturalist graduated from Haramaya University, to have a piece of information about the contribution of coffee to the national economy of the country and some other related facts.
He said, “Ethiopian Coffee is internationally considered fine coffee. Particularly some of the well known Ethiopia’s brands like Yirgachefe, Sidama, Limu and Harar have secured export market.”
As to him, Ethiopia has long history of coffee production and export though it still has not met the global competency it deserves to arrive at. With huge production potential, ecological advantage, diversity of cultivars, indigenous knowledge and conducive policy and structural facilities, both productivity and yearly production volume exhibits incompatibility to the context.
“People most of the time prefer buying organic coffee beans from local roasters because they like its freshness and complex aroma. Coffee plants prefer shade, but this makes them more difficult to tend and harvest. To make it easier to grow and harvest coffee, many conventional coffee producers plant hybrids that are developed to be happy in full sun,” he added.
According to Kedir, as it turns out, organic coffee tastes so good precisely because producers don’t use growing methods that jeopardize human and environmental health. Organic coffee farmers don’t use synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. They work with nature and use only organic fertilizers, which produce beans with more healthful antioxidants. These antioxidants may even improve the flavor of the coffee.
Kedir said cultivating organic coffee in the shade within an agro forestry system actively contributes to reducing deforestation, nurturing the soil, and preserving precious environment. Operators have to receive training and support to implement a mixed agricultural system encompassing drought-tolerant crops, fruit trees, and agro forestry techniques. This ensures diversified yields, long-lasting prosperity, and the appreciation of the land.
“Along the very sites in Ethiopia, organic coffee planting is becoming an essential livelihood for communities as an alternative cash crop, designed to reduce pressure on natural resources and create new sources of income. The process of selling coffee is integrating local communities into economically sustainable coffee production systems. Farmers have introduced shade-grown coffee in the buffer zone in degraded areas, and carved fields between lines of crops,” Kedir said.
At the forefront of the country’s effort, the production of Arabica Organic coffee, a gourmet product, is highly esteemed in the international market. Not only such a positive trend caters to the discerning tastes of coffee connoisseurs but it also plays a crucial role in boosting ecological restoration. The drive breathes new life into the local community by harmonizing coffee cultivation with revitalizing deforested areas through inter cropping native trees alongside coffee plants.
According to Kedir, in due course of moving towards a more sustainable future, Ethiopians must continue promoting climate-smart agriculture in conservation areas to protect natural resources, improve food security, and support economic development in rural communities.
True, he said the country has been becoming a prime example of how conservation and sustainable agriculture can work together to promote environmental stewardship and rural development and the forest is becoming verdant again, one coffee tree at a time.
Ethiopia had been the origin of coffee as coffee plant was initially found and cultivated in the Kafa province, colonized the world with its natural significance. Globally, coffee plays a significant economic role and serves as a major source of foreign earnings in many producing countries. The importance of coffee is embedded within the growing culture of attraction to the socioeconomic significance intrinsic to it.
He said all effort on harnessing the prevailing potential of increased production and quality of coffee, working in the value chain – winning uniqueness through branding as land of origin and working on institutional competency and quality delivery is highly advisable in order to balance the socio-cultural value of coffee at hand with the economic one.
True, organic coffee farming encourages sustainability, multilayered crop production and a rich array of wildlife. Farmers who practice organic coffee farming methods depend on organic matter to fertilize plants and by using these materials, mimic the natural processes of growth and decay. Organic coffee farming encourages beneficial insects and a healthier, more resistant crop. Mulching with organic materials and growing coffee under a canopy of trees decreases the need for irrigation and conserves water.
A lot remains to be done on how specific crops can transform communities, regional states and the nation at large, coffee stands out as a prime example, here.
As coffee also have the potential for transformation, many entrepreneurs, and business partners use coffee as the power of motivation for generating their thoughts, initiated venture and forged binding force to transform into actions.
Ethiopia is the past-present-and future home of Coffee Arabica. It is originated in Kafa, and at present the production potential, the possession of wide diversity excelling from all global countries makes the possibility to achieve the leadership in quality coffee production and export.
Perhaps coffee can generate high foreign earnings. In the future when the planet suffers climate change induced cultivar extinction, the world will turn its face to the most coffee diverse country- to this great ancient nation Ethiopia! Ethiopia would be the center of answers for all coffee variety needs of the global community.
Ethiopia is proud to be the birthplace of coffee. Beyond its historical roots, the daily coffee ceremonies are a vibrant part of life here. Coffee is really much more than daily brew, and it plays a pivotal role in bolstering Ethiopian economy. As the continent’s leading coffee producer and ranking fifth globally, the coffee industry is a major contributor to its economy, bringing in essential foreign currency and strengthening its position in international trade.
The top 5 Coffee Producers Worldwide are Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, Indonesia and Ethiopia.
Coffee isn’t just a crop in Ethiopia; it’s a lifeline. It’s the country’s number one source of export revenue, accounting for about 30-35 % of the nation’s total export earnings. All the coffee produced here is of the Arabica variety.
But beyond the numbers, coffee is deeply woven into the socio-cultural fabric of Ethiopia. It plays a pivotal role in the spiritual and daily life of its people.
Ethiopian coffee is not just any coffee; it’s a premium coffee. This means it’s of the highest quality, often grown in specific favorable conditions, and has unique flavors that set it apart.
Not only does Ethiopia’s coffee global demand boost Ethiopia’s economic standing but it also connects the country to a vast network of international trade and partnerships.
Elements of the coffee economy include, not limited to, importers, transportation, including shipping and trucking, roasters and packaging, sweeteners, disposable products, indirect services such as accounting, marketing, and promotion as well as induced spending by those working in the coffee economy.
“For Ethiopia to be economically competent, the agriculture sector needs to be well transformed tackling traditional methods with insufficient market information, unstable price, poor quality, lack of trust among trading partners and uncoordinated markets. The bulk of the country’s export earnings come from the agricultural sector basically coffee as it is being dynamic with credibly immense potential,” Kedir opined.
As to him, though the impact of coffee exports to the Ethiopian economy is insignificant in short run mainly for poor production, delay in ports, lower price, its effect is substantial in long run showing expansion of domestic production, value addition and price improvement will generate more export revenue.
In general, ensuring adequate production for the plantations of the coffee requires support from the government in terms of additional investment of the construction which negatively influences the ecosystems. Ethiopia’s coffee farmers therefore deeply understand the importance of forest conservation as much Ethiopian forest coffee is simply sold as bulk, low-grade product due to poor marketing and processing, unfortunately. Principally, he said the coffee cultivation system and the industry across the value chain needs to be made selfsame sustainable in Ethiopia.
Agro forestry management has to be well focused on as it is of paramount importance in maintaining or increasing the sustainability of traditional coffee-growing localities in the case of sudden climate change. Hence, expanding coffee growing areas is timely as it is useful in cultivation of coffee thereby fostering economic growth and sustainable development, too.
BY MENGESHA AMARE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 28 MARCH 2024
