By James Waithaka
Business Daily
June 11 2010
A plan to boost quality control in coffee production promises to strengthen the competitiveness of the crop and increase farmers’ earnings.
The European Union and Kenya-based DCDM are jointly funding a certification project aimed at increasing output and boost earnings by 25 per cent.
The project seeks to transform the way coffee is produced and marketed in its member countries to reach leading buyers.
Farmers in coffee producing countries in eastern Africa will be handed a lifeline through the five-year initiative being implemented under the Common Fund Commodities (CFC) by the Eastern Africa Fine Coffees Association (EAFCA).
Diminishing acreage
About Sh370 million has been channelled to the verification and certification project.
“This boom, however, may not be realised in countries like Kenya as more and more coffee acreage is lost to real estate and other developments in coffee growing areas,” the association said in a statement.
The diminishing coffee acreage in the country poses a threat to Kenya’s foreign currency reserves as well as its positioning as a producer of the world’s best crop.
“As it stands, indicators on a qualitatively and quantitatively improved coffee production and value addition process are imperative for all coffee producers if they are to enjoy the impending gravy train,” said Samuel Kamau, the acting executive director of the association.
Figures from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) show that the quantity of coffee exports decreased by December 2009 to 2,935 metric tonnes from a high of 7,252.1 metric tonnes earlier in May of the same year.
Sandeep Khapré of DCDM says leading markets have set standards for access, including tracking the production process, value addition, packaging and storage.
The project seeks to enlighten farmers on the standards and how best to capitalise on the global market’s expectations.
Despite Kenyan coffee’s global popularity among roasters, the country does not yet have a formal certification or standardisation regime.
Standards workshop
Last year the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs), drafted a comprehensive guide on certification standards to realign the local industry to the global markets where consumer are keener on traceability, food safety, environmental responsibility, fair pricing and farmers welfare. The regulations await the approval of stakeholders.
Beginning Saturday, the EAFCA will hold a four-day workshop on verification and certification of specialty coffee in Nairobi.
The workshop focuses on harmonisation of standards such as accreditation of trainers, reduction of certification costs, shared roles in market linkages, integrating producers upstream with the buyers, producer incentives and value chain sustainability.
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