Stakeholders bid to revive Africa’s coffee industry

Mr Abdullah Bagersh, African Fine Coffee Association’s chairman, addresses coffee stakeholders at Nairobi’s Safari Park Hotel on Friday. [Photo: Allan Muturi/Standard]

It was difficult for coffee players to be excited during last week’s media launch of the 12th African Fine Coffee Conference and Exhibition in Nairobi, given the growing disquiet in the sector.

Declining productivity, high costs of production, volatile prices, climate change and outdated technology seem to have conspired to wreak havoc at the same time, leading to lower earnings for coffee farmers in Eastern Africa. The industry is also facing stiff competition from other beverages, such as tea, fruit juices and alcoholic drinks.