Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development

JAERD

Vol. 2(4), pp. 054-059, November, 2015. www.premierpublishers.org, ISSN: 21670477

Research Article

Opportunities and constraints of coffee production in

West Hararghe, Ethiopia
Fekede Gemechu Tolera1* and Gosa Alemu Gebermedin2
1*,2

Oromia Agricultural Research Institute (OARI), Mechara Agricultural Research Center P.O. Box 19 Mechara,
Ethiopia.
Assessing factors influencing coffee production and productivity was used to develop
appropriate technology for improvement and inform policy makers to understand gap
concerning the commodity. Therefore, this study was designed to assess constraints and
opportunities of coffee production in West Hararghe Zone. It employed multi-stage sampling
procedure. In the first stage, Daro Lebu, Habro and Boke districts were selected purposively
based on coffee production potential from the zone. In the second stage, a total of seven
kebeles and 170 households were randomly selected. Household questionnaires were employed
to collect primary data and analyzed by using descriptive statistics. The study revealed
diseases, pest, poor access to market information, lack of physical infrastructure, lack of
improved coffee variety and weak extensions services were major constraints of coffee
production and productivity. On the other hand, high quality of Harar coffee, high demand of
Hararghe coffee on world market, construction of rural road, availability of mobile phone, good
indigenous knowledge were major opportunities for coffee producers in the area. Therefore,
findings of study indicated that development of disease resistance coffee variety, assessment
of farmers` indigenous knowledge, providing extension service and enhancing infrastructural
and institution facilities need emphasis to improve coffee production and productivity.
Key words: Coffee landrace, farmers` indigenous knowledge, coffee disease, market access.

INTRODUCTION
Coffee is the worlds most widely traded tropical product,
produced in over 50 developing countries. Even though
many species of coffee exist, for commercial production,
Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora took the principal
share and more than 60% of global coffee production is
based on C. Arabica (CAB International, 2006). Coffee
makes an important contribution to socio-economic
development and poverty alleviation and it has
exceptional importance to exporting countries, some of
which rely on coffee for over half of their export earnings.
About 25 million smallholder farmers and their families
produce 80% of world coffee production, that is an
important source of cash income and responsible for
significant employment (ICO, 2010).
In Africa Coffee is grown in many sub-Saharan countries

and mainly by small-holder farmers. Coffee producing

countries in Africa, especially those producing
C.Arabicas, stand to earn export revenue windfalls as a
result of the recent increase in the commoditys price on
the international market. However, physical limitations in
some coffee growing countries in Africa constrain their
ability to broaden their mix among the various varieties,
given the apparent price differentials, as a way of
maximizing revenues (ADB, 2010).

*Corresponding authors Email: Fekede Gemechu

Tolera, Oromia Agricultural Research Institute (OARI),
Mechara Agricultural Research Center P.O.Box 19
Mechara, Ethiopia. Email: fekedeg@yahoo.com

Opportunities and constraints of coffee production in West Hararghe, Ethiopia

Tolera et al.

054

C. Arabica is believed to be originated from Ethiopia and

hence, the country has enormous potential to sustainably
supply quality coffee with diverse type to the world
market. The coffee types of Ethiopia that are
distinguished for their very fine quality, with unique
aroma and flavor characteristics include Harar, Sidamo
and Yirgacheffe types (Workafes and Kassu, 2000).
However, coffee growers in Ethiopia have been exposed
to price fluctuations and impacts of unpredictable and
uncontrollable shocks (Samuel G. and Eva L., 2008).
Ethiopia is the leading C.Arabica producer in Africa,
ranking the fifth largest Arabica coffee producer and tenth
in coffee export worldwide (ICO, 2014). In 2012/2013
about 528,751.11 ha of land were covered by coffee,
from which about 2.8 million kuntal of clean coffee was
produced. However, coffee production area of 2011/12
cropping season were 515,882.46 ha from which about
3.8 kuntal of coffee were harvested. This showed that
area of production was increased by 2.49% from 2011/12
to 2012/13 cropping season while its total harvest was
decreased (CSA, 2013).
The importance of coffee in Ethiopia is clear because it is
one of the most valuable primary products in country
trade and Harar coffee fetches premium prices in the
world market. It contributes about 10% of the total
countrys coffee acreage and 8% of the countrys coffee
export (Desse, 2008). In Harar, coffee is produced in
highly diversified and it is garden production systems
adapted to different ecological conditions. In the area,
coffee is intercropped with the different crops like khat
(Khat edulis), sorghum, maize, beans and sweet potato.
Farmers of the area grow coffee landraces having their
own characteristic features (Bayeta et al., 2000).
Hararghe is endowed with enormous genetic diversity
and different coffee types with unique taste and flavor.
The region also possesses conducive agro-ecological
and socio-cultural conditions for coffee production.
Despite the immense potential, productivity and quality of
coffee production remained low. In West Hararghe
average productivity is 512 kg/ha which is below the
national average (Anteneh T, 2011). Therefore,
assessing factors influencing coffee production and
productivity was used to develop appropriate technology
for improvement and inform policy makers to understand
the gap. Hence, this study was intended to identify
constraints and opportunities of coffee production in west
Hararghe zone of Oromia regional national state.

METHODOLOGY
Description of the Study Areas
The study was conducted in three districts such as Daro

Lebu, Habro and Boke of west Hararghe zone. Darolebu

0
0
is located at 8 10N40 30E and bordered on the south by
the Shebelle River which separates it from the Bale Zone,
on the west by the Arsi Zone, on the northwest by Guba
Koricha, on the north by the Habro, and on the east by
Boke districts (Abdi, et.al, 2013). The district is
characterized mostly by flat and undulating land features
with altitude ranging from 1350 up to 2450 m.a.s.l. The
minimum and maximum temperature of the district
0
0
ranges from 14 to 26 C with average of 16 C while
average annual rainfall is 963 mm/year. Most part of
farming land is meant for production of coffee and chat
(Khat edulis L.) which are the most common cash crops
in the district. Income of smallholders households in the
district mainly depend on coffee production. Other major
crops like maize, sorghum, groundnut and haricot bean
were mostly intercropped in coffee or chat farms in the
district (Daro Lebu District Agricultural office, 2013).
Habro district was located at 404 km east of Addis
Ababa, capital city of Ethiopia and 75 km south of Chiro,
West Hararghe Zone town. The district boarded with
Guba Koricha district in west, Boke in east, Daro Lebu in
south and Oda Bultum in north. The altitude of the district
ranges between 1600-2400 m.a.s.l with maximum and
0
0
minimum temperature of 16 C and 20 C, respectively.
The district receives annual average rainfall of 650mm to
1000mm (Aman T and Anteneh T, 2010). Major food crop
grown in this district were maize, sorghum and haricot
bean while coffee and Khat were major cash crop grown
by smallholder farmers. Boke is one of districts of West
Hararghe zone known for coffee production. It is located
at 391 km east of Addis Ababa and about 69 km south of
Chiro, capital town of the zone. The altitude of the district
ranges between 1762-1855 m.a.s.l. The district receives
an average annual rainfall of 850 mm while average
0
temperature is 20 C. Boke is one of districts of West
Hararghe zone known for coffee production. It is located
at 343 km east of Addis Ababa and about 17 km south of
Chiro, capital town of the zone. It shares borders with
Chiro district in the west and north, Oda Bultum district in
the south and Mesala district in the east. The district is
found within 1300 to 2400 meters above sea level
(m.a.s.l). It receives an average annual rainfall of 850 mm
0
and the average temperature is 20 C (Boke District
Agricultural office, 2013).
Sample and sampling method
The population for this study comprise of all coffee
producing households in the selected kebeles of Daro
Lebu, Boke and Habro districts of west Hararghe zone.
This study employed multi-stage sampling procedures. In
the first stage, the districts were selected purposively
based on coffee production potential from west Hararghe
zone. Accordingly, Daro Lebu, Habro and Boke were
selected with collaboration of Zonal experts purposively

Opportunities and constraints of coffee production in West Hararghe, Ethiopia

J. Agric. Econ. Rural Devel.

055

Table 1. Average land holding and land under coffee production in Hectare West Hararghe
zone, 2013
Variable
Average
landholding(Ha)
Land allocated for
coffee(Ha)

Daro Labu
Mean
SD
0.95
0.55

Boke
Mean
1.1

SD
0.81

Habro
Mean
0.75

SD
0.51

0.35

0.37

0.20

0.4

0.27

0.25

Table 2. Age and coffee production experience of households in West Hararghe Zone, 2013
Variable
Age in a year
Farm experience in
a year

Daro Labu
Mean
SD
40.16
14.29
18.02
12.5

based on coffee production potentials of the zone. In the

second stage, three kebeles from Daro Lebu, two
kebeles from Habro and another two kebeles from Boke
district were selected randomly by considering number of
households producing coffee in each district. Finally, a
total of 170 households were selected which consists of
61, 57 and 52 households from Daro Lebu, Boke and
Habro districts, respectively.

Boke
Mean
40
17.58

SD
12.39
8.60

Habro
Mean
41.35
20.96

SD
14.66
10.93

0.35, 0.37 and 0.4 ha in Daro Lebu, Boke and Habro,

respectively (Table 1).
The mean age of households was 40.16, 40 and
41.35years in Daro Lebu, Boke and Habro, respectively
while farming experience of households on coffee
production reported as 18.02, 17.58 and 20.96 in a year
(Table 2). This study also revealed the most of farmers in
the study area have more experience of coffee
production practices.

Data Sources and Collection Methods

Data for the study were collected from both primary and
secondary sources. Primary sources of data were
collected through household survey with structured
questionnaires while secondary data were collected both
from published and unpublished source.
Methods of Data Analysis
The data were coded and entered into SPSS version 20
software for statistical analysis and management.
Descriptive statistics like mean, standard deviation,
frequency distribution and percentage were used to
understand the socio economic situations and constraints
of coffee production of the sample respondents of the
study area.

Table 3 below indicated that 70.5% of total sample

respondents were illiterate 29.5% of them were literate at
Daro Lebu district. Similarly, 73.7% of respondents were
illiterate 26.3% were literate at Boke while 69.2% illiterate
and 30.2% literate at Habro. In this study, high
percentage of illiteracy showed that there was a problem
of adopting new technology to boost production and
productivity of coffee in the study area.
Coffee Production Constraints

Socio economic Characteristics of Households

In the study area Coffee was mainly grown as an

intercropping system with different crops like sorghum
(7.2%), maize (67.1 %,) haricot bean (5.9%) and rarely
with Khat edulis (3.5%). The results of the survey
revealed that farmers of the area grow different coffee
landraces which are low yielder and poor in their
resistance toward disease, pests and drought problems.
According to farmers the productivity of coffee decreased
from time to time, due to lack of improved varieties in the
study area.

Households in the study area use their land for all

farming activities which include; production of food crops
and cash crops, house construction, tethering livestock
and tree planting. The average landholding size in the
study area ranged from 0.75 to 1.1 ha (Table 1). In terms
of allocation, land allocated for coffee production was

The result of the study (Table 4) revealed that farmers in

the study area mostly grown Shumbure landrace of
coffee due to its resistance to different diseases
especially Coffee berry Disease (CBD) which is
economical disease of coffee producing area of west
Hararghe zone (Table 5). Even though about 22.4% of

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

Opportunities and constraints of coffee production in West Hararghe, Ethiopia

Tolera et al.

056

Table 3. Educational status of households in West Hararghe Zone, 2013

Education status
Literate
Illiterate

Daro Labu
freq
%
18
29.5
43
70.5

Boke
freq
15
42

%
26.3
73.7

Habro
freq
16
36

%
30.8
69.2

Table 4. Major coffee landraces grown in West Hararghe Zone, 2013

No.
1
2
3
4
5

Coffee landraces
Abadir
Shumbure
Buna Gurracha
Buna Kalla
Kubaniya

Frequency
38
80
26
12
8

Percentage
22.4
47.1
15.3
7.1
4.7

Table 5. Major coffee diseases in West Hararghe Zone, 2013

No.
1
2
3
4

Diseases name
Coffee Berry Disease (CBD)
Coffee Branch Dieback
Coffee Leaf Rust(CLR)
Coffee Wilt Disease (CWD)

Frequency
78
50
38
4

%
45.8
29.4
22.4
2.4

Table 6. Average land allocation for Coffee and Khat edulis in West Hararghe Zone, 2013

No.
1
2

Variables
Land allocated for Coffee(Ha)
Land allocated for Khat(Ha)

households grown Abadir coffee landraces in the study

area its very susceptible to CBD.
Diseases and pests are causing considerable crop
losses in the study areas. For instance, coffee berry
disease is major disease observed on most farmers farm
while coffee wilt disease was minor disease observed on
coffee farm of few farmers (Table 5). On the other hand
farmers reported that coffee production was hampered by
different pest problems in the study area. The major pest
which affects coffee production was coffee stem borer
and coffee berry borer (Table 5). Hence, due to these
problems the farmers in the study area suffer to
economic problems and forced to replace their coffee
with other crops. Similar achievement was reported by
Mekurie et.al, 2004 and Yves, 1999 indicated that due to
market fluctuation, drought, disease and pest damages;
farmers were forced to uproot coffee tree and replace by
other local cash crops like Eragrostis tef and khat edulis.
Farmers also indicated that due to severe disease impact
especially Coffee Berry Disease on coffee production;
they forced to replace their coffee farm with Khat edulis
which is not affected by disease and highly drought
resistance than coffee. The average land under coffee

Mean SD
0.37 0.25
0.30 0.22

production was 0.37ha while for Khat was 0.3ha which

indicated that Khat edulis is the most competing cash
crop regarding land allocation with coffee currently in the
study area (Table 6). From this one can concluded that
Khat edulis production imposed difficulty on coffee
production in the study area.
Institutional Constraints of Coffee Production
As described above, coffee production and productivity of
smallholder farmers vulnerable not only by problems like
diseases and pest-insect in the study area but also an
institutional factor plays greater role in coffee production
system.
Because this study reflected that 57.6% of coffee
producers sells their product immediately after harvest
due to lack of storage facility (Table 7). Even though
some farmers store their coffee to six month/ one year for
better price, most households encountered yield loss.
About 67% of households sell their coffee product at
village market to retailer and collectors. Because of poor
access to market information, farmers reported that
retailer and collector decide price for their product. This
indicated that farmers sell their product to lower price as

Opportunities and constraints of coffee production in West Hararghe, Ethiopia

J. Agric. Econ. Rural Devel.

057

Table 7. Market place and selling time of coffee by farmers in West Hararghe Zone, 2013
Place of selling coffee
Village market
District market
Village and district market
Time of selling coffee
Immediately after harvest
Between 1-3 month after harvest
Between 3-6 month after harvest
>6 month after harvest

Frequency
114
34
22

%
67
20
13

98
36
30
6

57.6
21.2
17.6
3.5

Table 8. Respondents access to service in West Hararghe Zone, 2013

Variables
Market information
Road
Extension service

Have access
Frequency
64
52
60

they did not have any alternative actors to whom they sell
their product in the area.
Smallholder coffee farmers in the study area have limited
access to market information, physical infrastructure
(road, storage facility and transport facilities) and training
opportunity
concerning
coffee
production
and
management. For instance, 57.6% of the respondents
didn`t have access to market in formation and similarly,
64.1% of them didn`t have access to road facility to sell
their product on market (Table 8).
There is no doubt that technological advances can play
an important role in increasing production and
productivity as well as contributing in other areas such as
quality improvement and plant protection(ICO,2002). This
study revealed that lack of improved variety is major
constraint which directly reduces coffee production and
productivity in the study area. Most households (>96.5%)
still cultivate coffee varieties, which they inherited from
their parents (local landraces). Inadequate supply of high
quality coffee seeds still remains a major barrier to
Ethiopia coffee growers, mainly due to the absence of a
formal coffee seed system in the country (Taye et.al.,
2011) which in line with the result of this study.
It is also important to note that extension service is
important factors determine production and productivity of
smallholder farmers. Empirical results revealed that
extension contact has an influence on farm households
adoption of techniques to improve production (Nkonya et
al., 1997). However, this study revealed that, poor of
extension service is one of the constraint that affect
coffee production and productivity. About 64.7% of coffee
farmers not have access to extension service concerning
coffee production and productivity while only 33.3%
reported that they have access to extension service

%
37.6
30.6
33.3

Not have access

Frequency
98
109
110

%
57.6
64.1
64.7

(Table 8). The respondent reported that, the only

organization providing extension service are District
Agricultural Office and recently Mechara Agricultural
Research Center concerning coffee production and
management. This indicated that lack of organization
providing extension service for coffee farmers is other
constraint of coffee production in the study area.
In addition to the above listed constraints of coffee
production, households also reported that land shortage,
decline of soil fertility, prolonged drought, lack of credit
services and competition of other cash crop like Khat
edulis, are also hinder coffee production in the study
area.
Opportunities of Coffee Production in West Hararghe
Coffee production is the major income generating cash
crop to feed households in the study area. High quality of
Harar coffee, high demand of Hararghe coffee on world
market, construction of rural road to connect rural Kebele
to market place, availability of network in rural area, good
indigenous knowledge of coffee production, introduction
of improved variety of coffee by some organization
recently in the study area were an opportunity for coffee
production. Farmers in the area were interested in using
improved coffee production system and incorporating
their indigenous knowledge with improved practice
because they were supposed that with existed potential
indigenous knowledge on coffee production, it will
improve their production and productivity.

CONCLUSION
The finding of the study showed that average land
holding size of households were less than one hectare

Opportunities and constraints of coffee production in West Hararghe, Ethiopia

Tolera et al.

058

which indicated that land scarcity is major problem for

coffee production. The study also revealed that coffee
and Khat edulis were the major cash crop competing to
each other regarding land allocation. This study also
revealed that most of households in the study area were
illiterate which affect coffee production directly. However,
farmers in the study area have strong indigenous
knowledge on coffee production.
Even though coffee is major cash crop produced in the
study area, its production and productivity were
hampered by different constraints. The study concludes
that both biological and institutional factors play greater
role in coffee production. Diseases, Pest, insect, poor
access to market information, lack of physical
infrastructure, lack of improved coffee variety and poor
extensions services were the major constraints of coffee
production. However, high quality of Harar coffee, high
demand of Hararghe coffee on world market, construction
of rural road to connect rural Kebele to market place,
availability of network in rural area, good indigenous
knowledge indicated as future perspectives for coffee
producers in the area.

RECOMMENDATION
Based on the results of the finding, the following
recommendations were forwarded by the author to
improve coffee production and productivity in the study
area.
Most of coffee landraces grown by growers in the study
area were susptabile to different disease, pest and insect
problems. Because of this coffee growers forced to
change their coffee farm to `Khat`Edulis farm. Therefore,
research institutions have to give special emphasis for
development of environmentally friend and resistant
coffee variety for growers to keep coffee production
sustainability in the study area.
Coffee growers in the study area grow coffee for many
years with their own indigenous technical knowledge
which they inherited from their ground families.
Therefore, assessment of farmers` indigenous technical
knowledge on coffee production was required to improve
coffee production and productivity through integrating it
with scientific knowledge invented from research side.
To improve coffee production and productivity in the
study area, provision of extension services for producers
was important factors. However, weak extension service
concerning coffee production was reported as major
constraint by growers. So, government should provide
special services for growers to improve their skill and
knowledge on coffee production aspect and improve
livelihoods of households in the study area. Enhancing

infrastructural and institutional facilities (e.g. market

information, transportation and road) were another area
need emphasis to increase growers share from their
product.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors greatly acknowledge district level agricultural
development office workers, development agents at each
kebeles. Our acknowledgement also goes to Mr. Abdi
Adem, Mr. Mohammedsani Amin, Mr. Abdi Itafa, Mr.
Mulugeta Mamo, Mr. Alemu Asefa and Mamush Bekele
for their kindly support during the data collection for the
study. We also give great respect for farmers of the study
area for forwarding information concerning the study
without any hesitation. Lastly not least, we thank Oromia
Agricultural Research Institute and Mechara Agricultural
Research Center for allocating budget and execution
resource for the study. The authors acknowledged the
contributions of Dr. Benigno Rodriguez Padrn, Thomaz
Fronzaglia, Stanislas Bigirimana, Ikani Daniel Idoko,
Flavia Bliska, Kiyingi Isaac, Dr. Asfaw Y. Demisse for
donating their time, critical evaluation, constructive
comments, and invaluable assistance toward the
improvement of this very manuscript.

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059

Copyright: 2015 Tolera and Gebermedin. This is an

open-access article distributed under the terms of the
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Accepted 05 November, 2015

Citation: Tolera FG, Gebermedin GA (2015).
Opportunities and constraints of coffee production in
West Hararghe, Ethiopia. Journal of Agricultural
Economics and Rural Development, 2(4): 054-059.

Opportunities and constraints of coffee production in West Hararghe, Ethiopia