Zim has capacity to increase coffee production – Marchal – (European Union, Ambassador Xavier Marchal)
2010 07 02 –
The Herald
2010 07 02
http://www.herald.co.zw/inside.aspx?sectid=20729&cat=8
Business Reporter
Zimbabwe has the capacity to increase coffee production if the industry stabilises and become self-sustaining, the outgoing Head of Delegation of the European Union, Ambassador Xavier Marchal has said.
Ambassador Marchal said there are opportunities for growth, which should attract and promote new entrants into the sector.
He said increased production would create employment and improve standards of living.
“Zimbabwean commercial farmers are certainly among the best in the world, should coffee be “teamed up” with other very valuable crops such as macadamia nuts or avocados.
“Today the coffee sector is moribund, with 300 tonnes produced in 2010, which is not good for thousands of communal farmers who want to improve their livelihoods and income,” said Mr Marchal.
He added that unless there is an immediate intervention with sustainable business plan, Zimbabwe would no longer be able to produce fine Arabica coffee.
The country’s coffee production dropped to its lowest levels registering 300 tonnes in 2010 as farmers shifted to less demanding crops such as maize.
Zimbabwe reached its peak in the 1990s after producing 15 000 tonnes of coffee. The country has a milling capacity of 50 000 tonnes of green coffee annually.
It takes about seven years for a coffee plant to start producing, which makes it less attractive for most farmers.
EU’s involvement in supporting small-holder coffee producers of the Honde Valley started in 1982 and the climax of the support has been the establishment of the coffee mill in Mutare designed for small holder farmers.