JAERD Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development Vol. 2(4), pp. 054-059, November, 2015. © www.premierpublishers.org, ISSN: XXXX-XXXX

Research Article

Opportunities and constraints of coffee production in West ,

Fekede Gemechu Tolera1* and Gosa Alemu Gebermedin2

1*,2 Agricultural Research Institute (OARI), Mechara Agricultural Research Center P.O. Box 19 Mechara, Ethiopia.

Assessing factors influencing coffee production and productivity was used to develop appropriate technology for improvement and inform policy makers to understand gap concerning the commodity. Therefore, this study was designed to assess constraints and opportunities of coffee production in . It employed multi-stage sampling procedure. In the first stage, Daro Lebu, and districts were selected purposively based on coffee production potential from the zone. In the second stage, a total of seven kebeles and 170 households were randomly selected. Household questionnaires were employed to collect primary data and analyzed by using descriptive statistics. The study revealed diseases, pest, poor access to market information, lack of physical infrastructure, lack of improved coffee variety and weak extensions services were major constraints of coffee production and productivity. On the other hand, high quality of coffee, high demand of Hararghe coffee on world market, construction of rural road, availability of mobile phone, good indigenous knowledge were major opportunities for coffee producers in the area. Therefore, findings of study indicated that development of disease resistance coffee variety, assessment of farmers` indigenous knowledge, providing extension service and enhancing infrastructural and institution facilities need emphasis to improve coffee production and productivity.

Key words: Coffee landrace, farmers` indigenous knowledge, coffee disease, market access.

INTRODUCTION

Coffee is the world’s most widely traded tropical product, and mainly by small-holder farmers. Coffee producing produced in over 50 developing countries. Even though countries in Africa, especially those producing many species of coffee exist, for commercial production, C.Arabicas, stand to earn export revenue windfalls as a Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora took the principal result of the recent increase in the commodity’s price on share and more than 60% of global coffee production is the international market. However, physical limitations in based on C. Arabica (CAB International, 2006). Coffee some coffee growing countries in Africa constrain their makes an important contribution to socio-economic ability to broaden their mix among the various varieties, development and poverty alleviation and it has given the apparent price differentials, as a way of exceptional importance to exporting countries, some of maximizing revenues (ADB, 2010). which rely on coffee for over half of their export earnings. About 25 million smallholder farmers and their families produce 80% of world coffee production, that is an important source of cash income and responsible for *Corresponding authors Email: Fekede Gemechu significant employment (ICO, 2010). Tolera, Oromia Agricultural Research Institute (OARI), Mechara Agricultural Research Center P.O.Box 19 In Africa Coffee is grown in many sub-Saharan countries Mechara, Ethiopia. Email: [email protected]

Opportunities and constraints of coffee production in West Hararghe, Ethiopia Tolera et al. 054

C. Arabica is believed to be originated from Ethiopia and Lebu, Habro and Boke of west Hararghe zone. hence, the country has enormous potential to sustainably is located at 8010′N40030′E and bordered on the south by supply quality coffee with diverse type to the world the which separates it from the , market. The coffee types of Ethiopia that are on the west by the , on the northwest by Guba distinguished for their very fine quality, with unique Koricha, on the north by the Habro, and on the east by aroma and flavor characteristics include Harar, Sidamo Boke districts (Abdi, et.al, 2013). The district is and Yirgacheffe types (Workafes and Kassu, 2000). characterized mostly by flat and undulating land features However, coffee growers in Ethiopia have been exposed with altitude ranging from 1350 up to 2450 m.a.s.l. The to price fluctuations and impacts of unpredictable and minimum and maximum temperature of the district uncontrollable shocks (Samuel G. and Eva L., 2008). ranges from 14 to 260C with average of 160C while average annual rainfall is 963 mm/year. Most part of Ethiopia is the leading C.Arabica producer in Africa, farming land is meant for production of coffee and chat ranking the fifth largest Arabica coffee producer and tenth ( edulis L.) which are the most common cash crops in coffee export worldwide (ICO, 2014). In 2012/2013 in the district. Income of smallholders households in the about 528,751.11 ha of land were covered by coffee, district mainly depend on coffee production. Other major from which about 2.8 million kuntal of clean coffee was crops like maize, sorghum, groundnut and haricot bean produced. However, coffee production area of 2011/12 were mostly intercropped in coffee or chat farms in the cropping season were 515,882.46 ha from which about district (Daro Lebu District Agricultural office, 2013). 3.8 kuntal of coffee were harvested. This showed that area of production was increased by 2.49% from 2011/12 Habro district was located at 404 km east of Addis to 2012/13 cropping season while its total harvest was Ababa, capital city of Ethiopia and 75 km south of , decreased (CSA, 2013). West Hararghe Zone town. The district boarded with district in west, Boke in east, Daro Lebu in The importance of coffee in Ethiopia is clear because it is south and Oda Bultum in north. The altitude of the district one of the most valuable primary products in country ranges between 1600-2400 m.a.s.l with maximum and trade and Harar coffee fetches premium prices in the minimum temperature of 160C and 200C, respectively. world market. It contributes about 10% of the total The district receives annual average rainfall of 650mm to country’s coffee acreage and 8% of the country’s coffee 1000mm (Aman T and Anteneh T, 2010). Major food crop export (Desse, 2008). In Harar, coffee is produced in grown in this district were maize, sorghum and haricot highly diversified and it is garden production systems bean while coffee and Khat were major cash crop grown adapted to different ecological conditions. In the area, by smallholder farmers. Boke is one of districts of West coffee is intercropped with the different crops like “khat” Hararghe zone known for coffee production. It is located (Khat edulis), sorghum, maize, beans and sweet potato. at 391 km east of Addis Ababa and about 69 km south of Farmers of the area grow coffee landraces having their Chiro, capital town of the zone. The altitude of the district own characteristic features (Bayeta et al., 2000). ranges between 1762-1855 m.a.s.l. The district receives an average annual rainfall of 850 mm while average Hararghe is endowed with enormous genetic diversity temperature is 20 0C. Boke is one of districts of West and different coffee types with unique taste and flavor. Hararghe zone known for coffee production. It is located The region also possesses conducive agro-ecological at 343 km east of Addis Ababa and about 17 km south of and socio-cultural conditions for coffee production. Chiro, capital town of the zone. It shares borders with Despite the immense potential, productivity and quality of Chiro district in the west and north, Oda Bultum district in coffee production remained low. In West Hararghe the south and Mesala district in the east. The district is average productivity is 512 kg/ha which is below the found within 1300 to 2400 meters above sea level national average (Anteneh T, 2011). Therefore, (m.a.s.l). It receives an average annual rainfall of 850 mm assessing factors influencing coffee production and and the average temperature is 20 0C (Boke District productivity was used to develop appropriate technology Agricultural office, 2013). for improvement and inform policy makers to understand the gap. Hence, this study was intended to identify Sample and sampling method constraints and opportunities of coffee production in west Hararghe zone of Oromia regional national state. The population for this study comprise of all coffee producing households in the selected kebeles of Daro Lebu, Boke and Habro districts of west Hararghe zone. METHODOLOGY This study employed multi-stage sampling procedures. In the first stage, the districts were selected purposively Description of the Study Areas based on coffee production potential from west Hararghe zone. Accordingly, Daro Lebu, Habro and Boke were The study was conducted in three districts such as Daro selected with collaboration of Zonal experts purposively

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Table 1. Average land holding and land under coffee production in Hectare West Hararghe zone, 2013

Variable Daro Labu Boke Habro Mean SD Mean SD Mean SD Average 0.95 0.55 1.1 0.81 0.75 0.51 landholding(Ha) Land allocated for 0.35 0.25 0.37 0.20 0.4 0.27 coffee(Ha)

Table 2. Age and coffee production experience of households in West Hararghe Zone, 2013

Variable Daro Labu Boke Habro Mean SD Mean SD Mean SD Age in a year 40.16 14.29 40 12.39 41.35 14.66 Farm experience in 18.02 12.5 17.58 8.60 20.96 10.93 a year

based on coffee production potentials of the zone. In the 0.35, 0.37 and 0.4 ha in Daro Lebu, Boke and Habro, second stage, three kebeles from Daro Lebu, two respectively (Table 1). kebeles from Habro and another two kebeles from Boke The mean age of households was 40.16, 40 and district were selected randomly by considering number of 41.35years in Daro Lebu, Boke and Habro, respectively households producing coffee in each district. Finally, a while farming experience of households on coffee total of 170 households were selected which consists of production reported as 18.02, 17.58 and 20.96 in a year 61, 57 and 52 households from Daro Lebu, Boke and (Table 2). This study also revealed the most of farmers in Habro districts, respectively. the study area have more experience of coffee production practices. Data Sources and Collection Methods Table 3 below indicated that 70.5% of total sample Data for the study were collected from both primary and respondents were illiterate 29.5% of them were literate at secondary sources. Primary sources of data were Daro Lebu district. Similarly, 73.7% of respondents were collected through household survey with structured illiterate 26.3% were literate at Boke while 69.2% illiterate questionnaires while secondary data were collected both and 30.2% literate at Habro. In this study, high from published and unpublished source. percentage of illiteracy showed that there was a problem of adopting new technology to boost production and Methods of Data Analysis productivity of coffee in the study area.

The data were coded and entered into SPSS version 20 Coffee Production Constraints software for statistical analysis and management. Descriptive statistics like mean, standard deviation, In the study area Coffee was mainly grown as an frequency distribution and percentage were used to intercropping system with different crops like sorghum understand the socio economic situations and constraints (7.2%), maize (67.1 %,) haricot bean (5.9%) and rarely of coffee production of the sample respondents of the with Khat edulis (3.5%). The results of the survey study area. revealed that farmers of the area grow different coffee landraces which are low yielder and poor in their resistance toward disease, pests and drought problems. RESULT AND DISCUSSION According to farmers the productivity of coffee decreased from time to time, due to lack of improved varieties in the Socio economic Characteristics of Households study area.

Households in the study area use their land for all The result of the study (Table 4) revealed that farmers in farming activities which include; production of food crops the study area mostly grown Shumbure landrace of and cash crops, house construction, tethering livestock coffee due to its resistance to different diseases and tree planting. The average landholding size in the especially Coffee berry Disease (CBD) which is study area ranged from 0.75 to 1.1 ha (Table 1). In terms economical disease of coffee producing area of west of allocation, land allocated for coffee production was Hararghe zone (Table 5). Even though about 22.4% of

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Table 3. Educational status of households in West Hararghe Zone, 2013

Education status Daro Labu Boke Habro freq % freq % freq % Literate 18 29.5 15 26.3 16 30.8 Illiterate 43 70.5 42 73.7 36 69.2

Table 4. Major coffee landraces grown in West Hararghe Zone, 2013

No. Coffee landraces Frequency Percentage 1 Abadir 38 22.4 2 Shumbure 80 47.1 3 Buna Gurracha 26 15.3 4 Buna Kalla 12 7.1 5 Kubaniya 8 4.7

Table 5. Major coffee diseases in West Hararghe Zone, 2013

No. Diseases name Frequency % 1 Coffee Berry Disease (CBD) 78 45.8 2 Coffee Branch Dieback 50 29.4 3 Coffee Leaf Rust(CLR) 38 22.4 4 Coffee Wilt Disease (CWD) 4 2.4

Table 6. Average land allocation for Coffee and Khat edulis in West Hararghe Zone, 2013

No. Variables Mean ± SD 1 Land allocated for Coffee(Ha) 0.37± 0.25 2 Land allocated for Khat(Ha) 0.30± 0.22

households grown Abadir coffee landraces in the study production was 0.37ha while for Khat was 0.3ha which area it’s very susceptible to CBD. indicated that Khat edulis is the most competing cash crop regarding land allocation with coffee currently in the Diseases and pests are causing considerable crop study area (Table 6). From this one can concluded that losses in the study areas. For instance, coffee berry Khat edulis production imposed difficulty on coffee disease is major disease observed on most farmers farm production in the study area. while coffee wilt disease was minor disease observed on coffee farm of few farmers (Table 5). On the other hand Institutional Constraints of Coffee Production farmers reported that coffee production was hampered by different pest problems in the study area. The major pest As described above, coffee production and productivity of which affects coffee production was coffee stem borer smallholder farmers vulnerable not only by problems like and coffee berry borer (Table 5). Hence, due to these diseases and pest-insect in the study area but also an problems the farmers in the study area suffer to institutional factor plays greater role in coffee production economic problems and forced to replace their coffee system. with other crops. Similar achievement was reported by Mekurie et.al, 2004 and Yves, 1999 indicated that due to Because this study reflected that 57.6% of coffee market fluctuation, drought, disease and pest damages; producers sells their product immediately after harvest farmers were forced to uproot coffee tree and replace by due to lack of storage facility (Table 7). Even though other local cash crops like Eragrostis tef and khat edulis. some farmers store their coffee to six month/ one year for better price, most households encountered yield loss. Farmers also indicated that due to severe disease impact About 67% of households sell their coffee product at especially Coffee Berry Disease on coffee production; village market to retailer and collectors. Because of poor they forced to replace their coffee farm with Khat edulis access to market information, farmers reported that which is not affected by disease and highly drought retailer and collector decide price for their product. This resistance than coffee. The average land under coffee indicated that farmers sell their product to lower price as

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Table 7. Market place and selling time of coffee by farmers in West Hararghe Zone, 2013

Place of selling coffee Frequency % Village market 114 67 District market 34 20 Village and district market 22 13 Time of selling coffee Immediately after harvest 98 57.6 Between 1-3 month after harvest 36 21.2 Between 3-6 month after harvest 30 17.6 >6 month after harvest 6 3.5

Table 8. Respondents access to service in West Hararghe Zone, 2013

Variables Have access Not have access Frequency % Frequency % Market information 64 37.6 98 57.6 Road 52 30.6 109 64.1 Extension service 60 33.3 110 64.7

they did not have any alternative actors to whom they sell (Table 8). The respondent reported that, the only their product in the area. organization providing extension service are District Agricultural Office and recently Mechara Agricultural Smallholder coffee farmers in the study area have limited Research Center concerning coffee production and access to market information, physical infrastructure management. This indicated that lack of organization (road, storage facility and transport facilities) and training providing extension service for coffee farmers is other opportunity concerning coffee production and constraint of coffee production in the study area. management. For instance, 57.6% of the respondents didn`t have access to market in formation and similarly, In addition to the above listed constraints of coffee 64.1% of them didn`t have access to road facility to sell production, households also reported that land shortage, their product on market (Table 8). decline of soil fertility, prolonged drought, lack of credit services and competition of other cash crop like Khat There is no doubt that technological advances can play edulis, are also hinder coffee production in the study an important role in increasing production and area. productivity as well as contributing in other areas such as quality improvement and plant protection(ICO,2002). This Opportunities of Coffee Production in West Hararghe study revealed that lack of improved variety is major constraint which directly reduces coffee production and Coffee production is the major income generating cash productivity in the study area. Most households (>96.5%) crop to feed households in the study area. High quality of still cultivate coffee varieties, which they inherited from Harar coffee, high demand of Hararghe coffee on world their parents (local landraces). Inadequate supply of high market, construction of rural road to connect rural Kebele quality coffee seeds still remains a major barrier to to market place, availability of network in rural area, good Ethiopia coffee growers, mainly due to the absence of a indigenous knowledge of coffee production, introduction formal coffee seed system in the country (Taye et.al., of improved variety of coffee by some organization 2011) which in line with the result of this study. recently in the study area were an opportunity for coffee production. Farmers in the area were interested in using It is also important to note that extension service is improved coffee production system and incorporating important factors determine production and productivity of their indigenous knowledge with improved practice smallholder farmers. Empirical results revealed that because they were supposed that with existed potential extension contact has an influence on farm households’ indigenous knowledge on coffee production, it will adoption of techniques to improve production (Nkonya et improve their production and productivity. al., 1997). However, this study revealed that, poor of extension service is one of the constraint that affect coffee production and productivity. About 64.7% of coffee CONCLUSION farmers not have access to extension service concerning coffee production and productivity while only 33.3% The finding of the study showed that average land reported that they have access to extension service holding size of households were less than one hectare

Opportunities and constraints of coffee production in West Hararghe, Ethiopia Tolera et al. 058

which indicated that land scarcity is major problem for infrastructural and institutional facilities (e.g. market coffee production. The study also revealed that coffee information, transportation and road) were another area and Khat edulis were the major cash crop competing to need emphasis to increase growers share from their each other regarding land allocation. This study also product. revealed that most of households in the study area were illiterate which affect coffee production directly. However, farmers in the study area have strong indigenous ACKNOWLEDGEMENT knowledge on coffee production. The authors greatly acknowledge district level agricultural Even though coffee is major cash crop produced in the development office workers, development agents at each study area, its production and productivity were kebeles. Our acknowledgement also goes to Mr. Abdi hampered by different constraints. The study concludes Adem, Mr. Mohammedsani Amin, Mr. Abdi Itafa, Mr. that both biological and institutional factors play greater Mulugeta Mamo, Mr. Alemu Asefa and Mamush Bekele role in coffee production. Diseases, Pest, insect, poor for their kindly support during the data collection for the access to market information, lack of physical study. We also give great respect for farmers of the study infrastructure, lack of improved coffee variety and poor area for forwarding information concerning the study extensions services were the major constraints of coffee without any hesitation. Lastly not least, we thank Oromia production. However, high quality of Harar coffee, high Agricultural Research Institute and Mechara Agricultural demand of Hararghe coffee on world market, construction Research Center for allocating budget and execution of rural road to connect rural Kebele to market place, resource for the study. The authors acknowledged the availability of network in rural area, good indigenous contributions of Dr. Benigno Rodriguez Padrón, Thomaz knowledge indicated as future perspectives for coffee Fronzaglia, Stanislas Bigirimana, Ikani Daniel Idoko, producers in the area. Flavia Bliska, Kiyingi Isaac, Dr. Asfaw Y. Demisse for donating their time, critical evaluation, constructive comments, and invaluable assistance toward the RECOMMENDATION improvement of this very manuscript.

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Accepted 05 November, 2015

Citation: Tolera FG, Gebermedin GA (2015). Opportunities and constraints of coffee production in West Hararghe, Ethiopia. Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, 2(4): 054-059.

Opportunities and constraints of coffee production in West Hararghe, Ethiopia