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Freeman Makopa Business Correspondent
Coffee production in the country is set to increase by about 13 percent to 510 metric tonnes this year owing to support from development partners and expansion in hectarage, an official has said. Zimbabwe Coffee Mill Ltd manager Josephat Rushinga said coffee production was this year expected to rise to 510 metric tonnes from 450 tonnes last year.

“Coffee production is set to increase to 510 metric tonnes from 450 metric tonnes due to the support from developmental partner’s such as Food Agriculture Organization (FAO) and USAID”,

“They provided inputs, extension services and training,” he said.
“The number of smallholder farmers has risen to about 1 000 as of December 2012. Currently, the grower base consists of six commercial and 1 000 smallholders,” he added.

Mr Rushinga said small holder farmers were expected to produce about seven percent of the total coffee output this year and large-scale producers the rest.

But this still remains far below the peak production of nearly 15 000 tonnes achieved in the 1990s.
Mr Rushinga said 630 hectares are currently under coffee. Of this, 16 percent is held by smallholder farmers.

He said production could rise back to 15 000 metric tonnes if farmers were fully supported.
“Productivity could be increased to an average of 2.5t/ha per annum from the 4th year after crop establishment and the total area under coffee could be practically increased to above 4 700 ha by year 2018,” he said.

He said there was also need to put in place an aggressive policy to encourage local consumption of locally produced coffee.
Zimbabweans consume an estimated 50 tonnes of coffee annually.