Small-holder coffee output hits 60 tonnes
THE estimated coffee production in Manicaland was over 60 metric tonnes for the 2023 fiscal year, which is a sharp increase from the 40m/t produced the previous year.
Coffee production in the province is concentrated in Chipinge, Chimanimani, Mutasa and Mutare Districts because unlike other crops, coffee can be grown on sloppy terrain.
Coffee has a break-even yield of 1 171kg/ ha, break-even hectarage of 0,58ha under good management, coupled with a return per every dollar invested of $0,71 – thereby making it a low hanging fruit for the attainment of Vision 2030.
Over 98 percent of the total coffee produced in Zimbabwe is exported to the United States of America, Japan, China, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and South Africa, thereby making it a major foreign currency earner.
Coffee Research Institute head, Mr Caleb Mahoya said currently, Nespresso buys small-holder coffee at an average price of U$6.50 per kilogramme, a price that has resulted in the establishment of new coffee plantations across the country.
“The current production is on a recovery trajectory with a jump from 39.2 metric tonnes produced in 2021 to around 60 metric tonnes in 2023.
“The coffee industry is dualistic in nature, comprising of small-scale and large-scale commercial farmers, and 98 percent of the coffee produced locally is for export,” he said.
About 164ha are under small-holder coffee production, with 12.37ha in Chimanimani, Chipinge (68.11ha), Mutare (25.35ha) and Mutasa (58.18ha).
Mr Mahoya said coffee production fell from over 300 metric tonnes in the 1990s to below 30 metric tonnes, adding that of late, the industry is recovering due to a number of factors.
These include the global interest in locally produced coffee, an expansion drive through Government’s support, nurseries establishment and seedling distribution programmes.
He also singled out strong institutional support from Government, Silo Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Coffee Mill, Cairns, Nespresso and firm market prices for boosting coffee production.
However, despite the lucrative nature of the business, small-scale coffee producers are still facing teething challenges like lack of consistent funding, negative impacts of climate change, high costs of production, inadequate primary processing equipment, lack of irrigation infrastructure, shortage of labour, delayed payments, poor access to inputs and the high cost of fertilisers.
They are also facing challenges in importing chemicals and equipment due to scarcity of foreign currency and lack of financial support targeting coffee farmers.
“Natural calamities such as droughts and cyclones have not spared the sector either. These problems make it difficult for them to follow the requisite agronomic practices and effectively manage coffee pests and diseases.
“They also lack irrigation facilities and other infrastructure, coupled with poor linkage between the farmers and research service due to inadequate funding of coffee research institutions.
“A well-funded coffee value chain, including farmers, research and extension services will go a long way in unlocking the full potential of the sector to improve productivity and livelihoods as we work towards achieving Vision 2030,” said Mr Mahoya.
“Opportunities abound in the sector, and these lie in the conducive environment and addressing the challenges. Some of the opportunities include increasing global interest in the Zimbabwean coffee, value addition (roasting, packaging, branding and supply of processing equipment, loans provision, insurance schemes and input supply arrangements.
Mr Mahoya said production can get a further boast through early payment or forward marketing, seed and nursery production and embracing emerging technological developments like precision agriculture, artificial intelligence and efficient irrigation systems.
Nespresso, through Technoserve, is offering training and seedlings to smallholder farmers and also helping them acquire hand pulpers for the processing of coffee to improve its quality.
Other agencies partnering Government to revitalise the coffee sector include the Zimbabwe Coffee Mill, Palladium, the Food and Agriculture Organisation and the Department for International Development.
The World Coffee Research has also brought into the country 31 of the best performing coffee varieties that are still being evaluated for performance under local conditions before they are recommended for production.