The Prime Minister of Ethiopia claims a 100% increase in coffee production within last five years since he took power
October 12 - 2024
Coffee Geography Magazine
D. L. Gemeda
The coffee enthusiast leader of Ethiopia who grew up in one of the key coffee regions of Ethiopia announces his achievement during his term that the coffee production has increased from 500,000 tons to 1m tons. Ethiopia is known for high quality specialty Arabica coffee with beans particularly in high demand in the world market from places like Sidama, Yirga Chefe and Kafa regions
P.M. Abiy Ahmed highlighted his remark during the national coffee exhibition at the country’s science Museum.
The country has earned 1.4 billion USD in a single year coffee export which is a significant increase from the previous years as the coffee market is getting more liberalized for foreign buyers.
The Green Legacy Initiative, a program to increase the forest coverage of the country has attracted foreign attention as billions of tree seedlings were able to be planted each rainy season using mass mobilization throughout the rugged mountainous landscape. New coffee seedlings were also planted in the GLI which could bring Ethiopia as one of the top Arabica coffee producer within 8 years.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahimed tasting coffee from different regions of Ethiopia during the event
"When the Green Legacy Initiative started, one of its focus areas was coffee." PM Abiy explained.
Ahmed explained a comparative analysis of coffee production, stating, "Over the past five years, Brazil has been producing 3.7 million tons of coffee annually, while Vietnam produced 1.7 million tons per year. Ethiopia, on the other hand, was producing less than 500,000 tons of coffee annually. However, following the Green Legacy Initiative, Brazil's production has increased to 4 million tons, Vietnam to 2 million tons, and Ethiopia has been able to double its production to 1 million tons."
Prime Minister Ahmed planting trees during the Green Legacy Initiative of the mass mobilization to increase the forest coverage in Ethiopia
He also emphasizes the importance of quality in coffee production as the world market focuses in specialty coffee with new breed of coffee drinkers who rather enjoy the aroma and flavor instead of the caffeine as their daily fuel.
Born and raised in a small town of western Ethiopia in the town of Agaro, the prime minister indeed knows quite a lot about coffee farming.
Nano Challa is part of the newly formed Kata Muduga Cooperative Union in the Agaro region of Western Ethiopia, home to some of the most highly sought after coffees in all of Ethiopia with familiar Cooperative names like Yukro, Duromina, and Hunda Oli. This washed coffee from the Nano Challa Co-op is comprised of heirloom landraces grown at elevations between 1,900-2,200 meters above sea level.
On the occasion, Ahmed has also awarded farmers, exporters and associations from different coffee producing regions for their achievements and pledge support from the government.