Coffee production constraints and opportunities at major growing districts of southern Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was conducted in four zones (Sidama, Gedeo, Gamo Goffa and Wolayta) of South Nation Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR) with the objective to assess coffee production constraints and opportunities at major coffee growing districts (Wereda) of the region. Two districts from each zone and two peasant associations from each district were selected for the study using multistage sampling technique. Total sample sizes of 161 households were interviewed to generate both qualitative and quantitative data. Data were analyzed by using SPSS software and descriptive statistics were implemented. The study indicated that about 98.1% of the respondents produce coffee as a major crop followed by maize (75.2%) and ˝enset˝ (68.3%). Coffee was identified as a primary source of cash in all assessed areas except Gamo Goffa where banana ranked first among cash crops. The most important constraints identified in coffee production system were clustered in to two major categories as biotic and abiotic factors that can be considered as agronomic and environmental. Among the biotic factors diseases, insect pests, weed species and vertebrate animals were identified as the most important ones. Recurrent drought, frost, fluctuating rainfall pattern, high humidity, high temperature, low moisture, hail, storm, wind and reduced soil fertility were among abiotic factors affecting coffee production that could cause as much as 70% yield loss. Immense opportunities for the production, marketing and processing of coffee in the studied areas were also identified. The existence of all weather road, convenient topography, fertile land, relatively good climatic condition, water bodies for irrigation, convenient government policy and support from agricultural offices were some of the opportunities discovered. Thus, based on the information obtained, it is possible for farmers (producers) to improve coffee production and productivity by solving the constraints and using possible opportunities in the study areas and locations with similar agroecologies.

Keywords

• abiotic
• biotic
• policy
• production
• productivity
• snnprs empirical