Issues and Proposed Interventions
Summary of Coffee Technology Needs and Interventions etc.
By K.R. Chapman, Plant Production Officer (Industrial Crops), FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok. ThailandA Workshop session on the second day of the meeting was used to summarise the papers presented and the question and answers which emerged throughout the presentations and discussions.
In addition, participants from the various countries attending were asked to identify issues and proposed interventions needed in the coffee industry in their countries. These issues and interventions are the basis for making proposals and recommendations to individual governments, farmers, processors, traders and marketers and international agencies such as FAO, ICO and donors for follow-up action, projects and implementation.
From FAO/RAP’s viewpoint the aim of this session was to identify the commonality of issues and interventions so these may be addressed via a Regional Project Intervention, with components in individual countries as appropriate.
Vietnam
1. Robusta coffee from Vietnam is suffering from very low prices. Coffee prices for Robusta coffee are continually lower by US$100 per tonne compared to other countries. There is a need to re-organise the exporting system to reward quality and reduce the numbers of inexperienced traders that leads to dumping of coffee on the markets at low quality and very low prices.
2. Vietnam needs assistance in the identification of Specialty coffee and the markets for such coffee. In this regard perhaps both FAO and ICO can assist.
3. Vietnam requires technical assistance with development of appropriate processing methods, e.g., washed Robustas and semi-washed coffees.
4. For isolated Ethnic communities, assistance is required in all aspects of coffee production, processing, postharvest management and marketing and including small equipment for farmers.
5. Vietnam requires technical assistance with identifying new varieties of coffee, especially Arabicas and sourcing planting materials of such varieties.
6. Vietnam wants to establish Organic coffee production and needs technical assistance in both the production and certification process.
7. In the Robusta areas there is an urgent need to move to more sustainable production practices to reduce inputs, incorporate shade, stem soil degradation and diversify incomes from inter-cropping.
LAO-PDR
1. Improve the quality of Robusta coffee in Lao, via improved cultivation practices, varieties and appropriate processing methods.
2. Develop new areas for Arabica and Robusta coffee production. Currently, most production is confined to the Boloven’s Plateau area. Other areas in Northern and Central Lao could be developed for coffee production. Technical assistance is required to promote such development.
3. There is a need to improve the research and extension support base to the coffee industry in Lao and promote the use of grower organisations for processing and quality improvement in coffee.
4. Marketing of coffee via exporters and border trade is not recognising and paying good prices for quality coffee. Prices are the same irrespective of quality. There is a need to improve the marketing process and involve grower organisations in dealing directly with international buyers.
Thailand
1. Coffee quality is a key area of focus for both Robusta and Arabica coffee. With Arabica, quality and rust resistance selection are key issues in coffee selection and testing along with improving green bean quality during processing. For Arabica, quality in relation to altitude is an important component in grading and marketing.
2. For Robusta coffee in S. Thailand, low yields, inter-cropping and variable quality are major issues for attention.
Myanmar
1. Arabica coffee yields are generally low as most coffee is forest coffee grown under shade by smallholders as a back yard crop, with low inputs. Technical assistance is needed to improve production techniques, harvesting, processing, post harvest management, quality control, grading, and marketing of Arabica coffee.
2. Technical assistance is also required with introduction and testing of new varieties in different localities, to determine which varieties are suitable for planting in which location, to produce fine high quality coffee.
3. Technical assistance is required with provision of very visual extension information and simple manuals for training of farmers. Visual information on production methods, harvesting, processing, grading, roasting, deficiency symptoms, pests and diseases are urgently required along with farmer training schemes.
4. Technical advice on storage of green bean and parchment for roasting in-country for the local markets is needed.
5. Myanmar needs to have a programme to promote coffee consumption in-country.
6. Myanmar requires assistance with the certification of Organic coffee and particularly on ways to reduce the costs of the current, expensive international certification processes. It was suggested that this issue be addressed via an ICO Standard Certification for Organic coffee. The standard would then be implemented via a Regional Organic coffee Certification Process, that would help develop in-country trained, registered certifiers for Organic coffee. The certifiers would be responsible to a Government agency, with spot audits and monitoring from an international agency such as the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement (IFOAM) or ICO working with IFOAM.
7. There is a need in Myanmar for simple equipment for processing and storage of coffee.
Indonesia
1. The main issue for Achenese Arabica coffee relates to the restrictions on the export of Achenese coffee. All Achenese coffee in the past had to be exported through Medan in N. Sumatra by a National government imposed trading monopoly. Aceh seaports were closed to all Achenese exports. Because of such restrictions and lack of competition traders did not pay premiums for high quality coffee. Aceh now has one seaport and the challenge is to get the infrastructure in place to allow for the direct export of high quality Specialty coffee to international buyers.
2. The Indonesian Coffee Exporters Association Quality Control standards need to be invoked so traders pay a fair price based on coffee quality.
3. Altitude does influence coffee quality and coffee grading needs to recognise these differences so the market prices reflect the quality differences.
4. Aceh coffee farmers, who produce over 90% of the Arabica coffee of Indonesia, require assistance in developing Specialty coffee and Specialty coffee markets and international trading links for their recognised high quality coffee. Gayo Highland coffee from Aceh is is already being recognised for its high quality in the international market and this promotion needs to be expanded.
East Timor
1. East Timor requires assistance with policy on coffee and especially for the Specialty high quality, high priced coffee market, which it can supply. East Timor needs to develop between marketers and farmers, a country marketing strategy that ensures development of a reputation for high quality Organic coffee.
2. There is a requirement for technical assistance in specific areas such as pruning, in-filling, shade tree replacement, and use of organic manures/compost. Training in quality assurance on pulping and processing and development of a purchase system that recognises quality grade coffee and rewards farmers for producing good quality coffee is needed.
3. Modernise the coffee production, processing and marketing system and link it to industries like tourism.
4. Continued improvement in road infrastructure.
5. Long-term needs include:
India
1. There is a need to promote the consumption of coffee in producing countries of the region including China and India in particular, which are potentially large markets. Also, countries such as Russia are large potential markets for coffee.
2. It is suggested that a consortium of Asian/Pacific countries be developed to share knowledge, technologies and coffee planting materials.
3. India supports the idea to reduce costs of Organic coffee certification via a regional mechanism for supporting in-country certification. A set of international standards need to be developed specifically for Organic coffee.
4. There is a need for technical assistance aimed at sustainable coffee production in India.
5. India needs to address the issues of environmental controls of coffee wastes arising from processing and develop practical measure to address the problem.
6. There is a need to evaluate the semi-washed Robustas and Arabicas with a view to improving quality and reducing environmental problems associated with wastes and water.
7. There is a need for more cupping laboratories to help focus research and production on cup quality in coffee varieties and processing and handling methods.
Dr. E. Illy - Italy
1. There is considerable over-production in the world market for coffee. The annual increase in over-production of 3.7% is running at about twice the rate of the annual increase in consumption. Much of this coffee is of poor quality.
2. The challenge is to increase coffee quality and consumption in both coffee producing and consuming countries and reduce the amount of poor quality in the market place. Promotion based on fact that in moderation, coffee is good for health should be undertaken. There is a need for more research on the healthful effects of coffee.
3. Coffee should be made pleasant to drink and simply avoiding defects is a major step forward in this process of improving quality.
4. There is a need to dispose of poor quality coffee and coffee wastes and develop alternative products from these; for example, detoxification uses, structural materials, antioxidant scavengers, composite boards, coffee oil etc.
5. Organic coffee only represents a small fraction of the world market at present. Costs of production for often low yielding, Organic coffee have to be carefully weighed as the premium paid for the product may be only 12-20% more, whereas for Specialty coffee the premium may be two to four times as much. In Brasil, some Organic coffee only gives 10-15 bags/ha while non-organic producers have yields of 50 bags/ha. Forest coffee produced with very low or virtually no inputs, of course is different to where organic manuring is practised.
6. The lowering of Ochratoxin residues in coffee derived from mould growth occurring during faulty drying and with re-wetting of coffee is a very major issue for the world coffee industry. If the problems are not excluded quickly then about 7% of the total amount of coffee marketed may be rejected and this will cause a major disaster in the world coffee industry.
Mr. Pablo Dubois - ICO
1. There is an opportunity to create a Specialty coffee Association of Asia/Pacific to act as a forum for producers in the region. The East African Fine Coffee Association is already established as a forum for Specialty coffee.
2. As emphasised by Dr. Illy, the problem of Ochratoxins, is perhaps the most serious issue facing coffee producing countries throughout the world. A project to address this issue is underway with member countries of ICO. ICO/CFC/FAO are co-operating in the implementation. ICO is also assisting FAO with a Technical Co-operation Project proposal for Vietnam which is member of ICO, but not a member of the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) which finances a lot of member country projects on coffee.
* The opinions expressed in this paper are those of the author’s alone and do not imply any opinion whatsoever on the part of the FAO/UN
Summary of Coffee Technology Needs and Interventions Including Net Donors of Technology by Country
