KENYA
Robério Oliveira Silva, executive director of the International Coffee Organization, in his statement to attendees said, “I remain convinced of the need to do everything possible to ensure the continuity of AFCA [African Fine Coffee Association Conference and Exhibition] and its success in addressing challenging issues the coffee community is facing today in Africa.”
Despite Silva’s conviction, times are getting tougher for many who grow coffee in Africa. The continent overall produces less coffee now than it did 25 years ago. This was the message delivered by Felix Koskei, minister of agriculture for Kenya, at the 12th AFCA.
“The decline in our production is happening against a backdrop of an increase in world coffee consumption which is growing at an average of 2 percent,” said Koskei to AFCA attendees.
This paradox of poverty during an uptick in market demand was blamed by some on lack of governmental support and sufficient infrastructure for conducting agribusiness. Returns have become so poor for growing this crop in parts of Kenya that some farmers have removed coffee trees. Selling off or developing the land as real estate has been more lucrative.
Efforts to find ways to boost production and attain higher prices for green beans continue there, however.
Learn more: www.eafca.org/wwc/resources/presentations.htm