An Overview of Coffee Research in Ethiopia

1. An Overview of Coffee Research in Ethiopia
IPFRI and EDRI Organized Conference on
Ethiopia’s Coffee Value Chain: Evidence towards improved investments and policies,
September 15th, 2015, Hilton Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Taye Kufa
Senior Coffee Researcher-Agronomist
EIAR, Jimma Agricultural Research Center
kufataye@yahoo.com, Cell phone: +251-912 03 29

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Presentation outline
1. Introduction
2. Opportunities & challenges
3. Coffee germplasm conservation
4. Coffee Research
5. Technology transfer
6. Coffee research strategic plan
7. Concluding remarks

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1. Introduction: Ethiopian coffee sector
• Ethiopia = coffee home
• About 20 million people (25%) for livelihood.
• Four broad coffee production systems
• A total of 4.7 million small-holders (90 %)
• Estimated total coffee area = 561,761.82 ha
• Annual total production = 419,980,156 kg (productivity = 748 kg/ha).
• A leading export crop (60-70%, reduced to 22 - 35%)
• Share of total value traded coffees (unwashed 59 % & washed 41%)
• The 5th largest global exporter & leading arabica producer in Africa.
• Exports green coffees to 58 countries, European markets (53 %)
• National statistical coffee data lacking.
Sources: MoA 2013, CSA 2015

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1. Introduction:
Top ten producing countries 2010-2014
Country Species Total production
(000 bags)
% share of
world total
Brazil A/R 47380 33.55
Vietnam A/R 25300 17.89
Colombia A 10145 7.16
Indonesia R/A 10096 7.11
Ethiopia A 6737 4.79
Honduras A 5148 3.65
India R/A 5044 3.57
Peru A 4223 3.00
Mexico A 4141 2.94
Uganda R/A 3516 2.49
Source: ICO 2015

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1. Introduction: Compare Ethiopia & Brazil
Variable Ethiopia Brazil Difference in
folds
Total production (000 bags) 6,798 43,484 7
Domestic consumption (000 bags) 3,383 19,720 6
Per capita consumption (kg) 2.40 6.02 3
Export of green coffee (60-bags) 2,675, 381 30,141,034 11
Export of processed coffee (60-kg bags GBE) 38 3,366,479 88592
Gross stock at start of crop year (000 bags) 417 11,345 27
Value of export of all forms of coffee (mln US #) 822.76 8,715 11
Value of export of all merchandize (mln US #) 2,615 256,040 98
Value of coffee as % of all merchandize (mln US #) 31.5% 3.4%
Value of coffee as a percent of GDP 2.59% 0.35%
 Focus on coffee technology, value-addition & promotion!
Source: ICO 2012

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Estimated data for Ethiopian coffee (CSA 2015)
Variable 2013/14 2014/15 Change
Total area (ha) 538,467 561,762 4.33
Production (tons) 392,006 419,980 7.14
Yield (kg/ha) 728 748 2.69
Below target: why?
 Limited use of appropriate technologies
 Weak linkage among stakeholders
 No external projects to support field management
 Price risks to farmers, producers & exporters.

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1. Introduction:
Coffee Productivity (green bean, kg/ha) in Ethiopia- LOW
 Conservation & managing forest coffee trees_ diversity, quality & premium prices
 Sustainable intensification_ High productivity at potential/cluster areas
 Encourage private sectors & scaling-up of farm management
 Financial access to coffee research, extension & farmers
This would ensure genetic diversity, productivity, quality and economic return .
250
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1550
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Forest Semi-forest Garden Planation Research
(on-farm)
Research
(on-station)
National = 756 kg/ha

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0
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40
Reduced coffee's share (%) from the
total export value due to export
diversification
0
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1990
1991
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Total production Total export
Domestc consumption
Production, export & local consumption
(thousand 60 kg bags)
1. Introduction: coffee trends in Ethiopia (ICO 2014)

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1. Introduction:
Known coffee quality in Ethiopia
• Limmu = Winy
• Wellega = Fruity
• Harar = Mocha
• Sidama = Spicy
• Yirgacheffe = Floral
• Other areas = cup profiles ?
Why? Coffee genetics, Environment, processing?
 Agro-ecology based management and use – Local landrace R4D strategy
 Trade marked & licensed for the benefits
 But, not attractive and benefit farmers & local community as expected
 Facing cash & food risks – shifting to other crops like Khat.

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2. `Challenges & Opportunities
2.1 Opportunities
 Genetic diversity & favorable environments
 Farmers’ long standing coffee culture for their livelihood - coffee is life!
 Shade-grown coffee landscape for sustainability components
 Unique coffee production & ceremony .
 Known coffee brands & cup profile to consumers
 Participation of private sector & coffee unions/ cooperatives
 Annual Coffee Day Celebration – Oromia Regional State & Federal MoA.
 GoE priority to establish coffee sector institutional set-up, among others.

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2.2 Challenges
• Population pressure
• Deforestation land degradation
• Smallholding & traditional oriented system
• Little/no use of full package coffee technologies
• Limited funding access to producers and traders
• Risks of climate change and variability - timing
• Increasing disorders & pests – diseases, insects
• Crop replacement, more productive/profitable
• Reduced export coffee price- risks to producers & exporters
• Frequent structural change & weak linkages at all levels
 Threats to coffee genetic resources & urgent collaborative actions .

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3. Coffee germplasm conservation
In-situ
Coffee Natural Forests of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves
The Yayu Coffee Forest
The Kafa Coffee Forest
 The Sheka Forest.
 Three zones identified for development (transition, buffer & core).
 Wildlife, diseases & insects, climate change, low return
 Support for high productivity, diversification & promotion
 Empowering farmers and local people to benefit more.
Ex-situ
Coffee germplasm collected and ex-situ conserved
 Jimma Research Center & sub-centers
 Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute
More potential areas remain unaddressed – due to limited capacity to
collect & manage in field gene bank .

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4. Coffee Research In Ethiopia
Started before JARC-1966
• MoA & IAR signed 1958
• NCB established in 1952
• FAO, World Bank, EU
Ten Coffee Research Centres
 Main Cener- Jimma
 Sub-centers
 Trial stations
 Adaptive sites
EU-CIP financial supports.
 Representing diverse eco-zones
 Local adaption and cup profile
Major Contributions:
 Safeguard coffee genetic resources from loss due to CBD
 Increased coffee production & productivity
 Conserving coffee genetic resources for research purpose
 Improved income & quality of life
 Increased coffee export & foreign currency.

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4.1 Coffee Research Capacity at JARC
# of coffee researchers Laboratory facilities
 Plant pathology
 Coffee processing & quality
 Soils & plant analysis
 Breeding & seed technology
 Coffee physiology
 Plant biotechnology
6
17 19
46
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
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45
50
1979 1989 1999 2015
Research Budget:
Source = Fully Government , Total Amount (ETB) = 7.3 million/year

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4.1 National Coffee Research Projects
Five coffee projects = specific target areas
Demand-driven and Export-oriented Coffee Technology Generation and
Promotion in ….. Ethiopia
Two Components:
Comp I: Technology generation + adaptation
 Varieties, agronomic practices, post-harvest handling
Comp II: Technology promotion + evaluation
 Seeds/seedlings, training services, FRG, capacitating experts,
publications, demonstration sites, field days, etc

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4.1 COFFEE RESEARCH – key achievements
• 6,717 germplasm collected & maintained at research gene banks
• 37 coffee varieties (34 pure lines & 3 hybrids) released
• In 2010, 11 varieties for specialty areas (3 Sidama/Yirgachefe, 4 Wellega, 4 Harar)
• More promising genotypes identified for known areas
• Improved agronomic practices (nursery, forest, garden & plantation)
• Harvesting and processing methods developed
• Technology multiplication & quality seed
• Coffee tissue culture- protocol
• Coffee economics & extension research
• Coffee diversification technology options.

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4.1 COFFEE RESEARCH: Coffee varieties
Suitable area # of
variety
Clean coffee (kg/ha)
Research On-farm
Highland 7 1930 1340
Mid-highland 13 1753 853
Midland 9 1934 1349
Low-highland 2 1725 850
Low-midland 1 1820 1400
Lowland 5 1878 1098
Mean 1840 1148
 Lowland = 1000 - 1550, Midland = 1550 - 1750, Highland = 1750 - 2100 m
 Coffee technologies are agro-ecology/location specific

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600
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2400 2400
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1150
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Selection Hybrid Selection Hybrid
On-farm Research
Min Max Mean
Hybrid variety = 39-70 % yield increase on research & on-farm, respectively.
4.1 COFFEE RESEARCH: yield performance (kg/ha)

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4.1 Coffee Research... achievements
 Forest coffee management
 Seed handling & nursery operations
 Modern coffee cultivation
 Ideal coffee shade trees (temporary & permanent)
 Canopy classes & stem natures of coffee germplasms
 Spacing & population density
 Integrated soil fertility management
 Tree management (pruning & training pratices)
 Coffee processing & quality reseach findings
 supply of basic coffee seeds =

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5. Technology transfer
Demand-supply share of coffee seeds at JARC
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Total
Demand-supplyshare
Demand Supply
So far, JARC supplied = 243,600 kg & ten million seedlings.

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5.1 Technology transfer: established seed orchards
 A total of 1235 producers (1227 farmers + 5 private + 3 others)
 Producing basic coffee seeds, but need support and formal system
 Goverment support to authorize them as basic seed producers .
Coffee area Research
center
Adaptive
site
Total
Limmu /Gera 3 7 10
Wellega 2 4 6
Harar 1 1 2
Sidama/Yirgachefe 2 2 4
Total 8 14 22

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6. Coffee Research Strategic Plan (2015-2030)
National strategic issues/directions-draft:
• Germplasm enhancement & variety development
• Molecular characterizations & tissue culture
• Crop protection (diseases, insects, weeds)
• Postharvest & quality management
• Agronomy/crop management
• Conservation agriculture, irrigation & plant nutrition
• Irrigation & conservation agriculture
• Seed technology
• Technology demonstration & dissemination
• Socio-economics, extension & gender research
• Capacity enhancement .

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 Sustainable management & use of the unique coffee resources:
A key to food security & poverty alleviation in Ethiopia.
 Capacity building to public & private institutions- research & development
 ensuring source-sink balance (producer, trader, processor, consumers)
 Generating & scaling-up of coffee technologies for sustainable intensification
 Recognizing & promoting our unique coffee landscapes & cup profile by area:
certification, sustainable tourism, geographical indicators, PES, etc.
 Coffee training institutions & strong networking b/n local & global partners
Hence, transforming coffee sector for the benefits of ALL.
7. Concluding remarks

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Acknowledgements
IFPRI & Ethiopia Strategy Support Program
for the invitation to share our experiences .
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Thank You!