Coffee output declines
Published On April 6, 2014 » 2544 Views» By Moses Kabaila Jr: Online Editor » Business, Stories
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By MAIMBOLWA MULIKELELA-
ZAMBIA’s coffee production has declined from 450 tonnes recorded in 2013 to 200 tonnes this year, due to lack of a tree agriculture policy and long-term financing.
Zambia Coffee Growers Association (ZCGA) chief executive officer Joseph Taguma said Zambia’s coffee production had continued to drop.
Mr Taguma said this year the country would produce about 200 tonnes citing lack of a tree agriculture policy and long-term financing.
Speaking at the Zambia Sugar 2014 Barista Championship in Lusaka, Mr Taguma said there was need for the Government to develop a tree  agriculture policy that would support long-term tree crop agriculture.
“We don’t have a policy that is geared towards promoting tree crop agriculture because tree crop agriculture by nature requires long-term finances hence the need for the Government to develop a tree agriculture policy to help  grow this important sector,” he said.
Mr Taguma explained that the highest production ever achieved was in 2004 when the country recorded about 6,500 tonnes.
“We would like to see a situation where the Government was promoting years to mature,” Mr Taguma said.
He said there was an improvement in the consumption of coffee in Zambia and thanked Zambia Sugar for being part of the Barista Championship.
Speaking at the same function, Zambia Sugar managing director Aubrey Chibumba said the company was proud to promote Zambian coffee.
“We are happy as Zambia Sugar to promote Zambian coffee and help improve the coffee consumption in the country,” Dr Chibumba said.

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