The Coffee Federation of Ghana has called for more policy interventions to revamp the coffee sector in Ghana to leverage its high global demand and potential to create jobs and boost the economy.
The global coffee market was valued at USD 102.02 billion in 2020, and it is projected to reach a CAGR of 4.28% during the forecast period of 2021-2026.
Though governments over the years have rolled out some programs including the 2018 announcement to distribute over four million coffee seedlings to our growers through the Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) program, other challenges continue to debilitate the coffee sector in Ghana.
Addressing participants during a six-day training workshop on roasting and cupping of coffee for key players in Ghana and other West African countries at CRIG, New Tafo in the Eastern region on October 5, 2021 as part of the commemoration of World coffee day observed globally on 1st October 2021, the President of Coffee Federation of Ghana, Nathaniel Ebo -Nsarko said coffee farmers in Ghana lack farm inputs, fertilizers, and machinery for efficiency while the absence of value addition undermines the sector.
“Even though the processing of coffee is easier and requires less capital for its processing as compare to cocoa, coffee can generate an income of over 10 billion annually for the country, coffee being the second valuable commodity to crude oil and its nutritional value for human health should motivate we as a country to invest in its production and processing,” he said
Nathaniel Ebo- Nsarko regretted that though coffee is largely produced in Africa, it is mostly consumed in Asia and Europe.
“Currently there is a deficit of about 30% in coffee consumption in the country, and therefore it provides a golden opportunity for both roasters and coffee farmers to work hard to expand the number of farms that they have to meet the deficit as it were. we are so happy that his Excellency the president of the Republic of Ghana has shown some interest in the Coffee and has actually put a benchmark that he wants 2 billion US dollars as a benchmark to COCOBOD to in the next five years to be recorded to GDP contribution to coffee”
“Coffee remains one of the most important export commodities and one of the most consumed beverages in the world. And we in the coffee industry in Ghana must hold this commodity in high esteem. With over 21 value change actors we think we can make a difference. it is reported that coffee in dollar terms is the second most traded product in the world after petroleum”. He stated
Nathaniel Ebo-Nsarfo however bemoaned the poor farmgate price for coffee in Ghana.
“Coffee prices in Ghana have been lowest in many years which threatens the very existence of the coffee farmers. These prices present a great threat to the coffee industry because of the cost involved in the production”
He said the training workshop would program help boost the local consumption of coffee and to provide a stable market for Africa coffee and contribute to the standard of living in the rural communities.
An agriculturist Dr. Akuamoah Boateng who is into exporting of coffee lamented the low patronage to coffee products in Ghana stating that it threatens the sector and the coffee farmers.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Kojo Ansah
