Smell The Coffee
Coffee production continues to plummet

28^th October 2004

COFFEE production continues to sink to new levels as the performance of the country's agricultural industry remains unsatisfactory since the advent of the chaotic land reform exercise.

Agro-industrial giant, Ariston Holdings said last week that coffee production for the season ended in August dropped significantly. "In the year end to 30 September 2004, volumes of all crops produced by the group increased with the exception of coffee. Other production activities have either been in line with or in excess of budget," said management of the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed firm. About 6,000 metric tonnes, a 20 percent decline from the 2002 season were harvested last year.

The coffee industry has suffered a decline in the past two years because of weakening international prices and because of the poor quality of the crop. Zimbabwe, before the chaotic land reform exercise, used to export 97 percent of mild Arabica coffee and produced about 0,2 percent of the world's coffee with the domestic product ranking fifth in quality.

Zitha Dube – Financial Gazette (Zim)