‘Lack of finance affects coffee sector’

By KELLY NJOMBO
THE Zambia Coffee Growers Association (ZCGA) says lack of information and finance in the country’s coffee sector has hindered further exploitation of opportunities in the industry.
ZCGA general manager Joseph Taguma said the association is unable to meet the cost of investing in more effective market intelligence and promotional activities due to lack of funds.
Mr Taguma said an export promotion fund would enable the ZCGA to strengthen international marketing efforts on behalf of its members.
“ZCGA is unable to meet the cost of investing in more effective market intelligence, gathering and actual promotional activities due to lack of finance.
It is difficult for the association to seek additional contributions from the members to undertake more effective market research and promotional campaigns particularly in the light of the reduced number of growers,” he said.
Mr Taguma said this in Lusaka recently when he appeared before the parliamentary committee on agriculture’s potential of the non-traditional crop sector in the country.
He said increased marketing efforts will greatly assist the coffee industry grow, hence create jobs for the people in the country.
Mr Taguma said currently, the coffee supply in the country is low and that there is need to increase production of the commodity if smallholder farmers are to benefit.
He said smallholder farmers’ involvement in the coffee business should be seen as a viable possibility to reduce poverty levels in the country.
“Smallholder involvement in the industry should be seen as a viable option for poverty alleviation among the rural populace of Zambia as this has been proved in countries like Rwanda where a large number of rural and small-scale farmers have coffee as their main cash crop,” he said.