The Ethiopian government has announced its intention to raise coffee exports by 45% this year. This is to be done by offering incentives and increased government support to farmers.
Shimelis Arega, a Trade Ministry spokesman said in a statement early this month, “Coffee exports will increase 45% to over 260,000 tons this year.
“Incentives will help achieve this goal, and they will include marketing linkage, loans for coffee exporters and processors, and the promotion of the Arabica coffee which the country exports at trade shows abroad,” he said.
He said in 2014 Ethiopia earned $780 million from exports of 184,000 tons. However Ethiopia also has a strong domestic market.
According to World Bank figures in 2014, the coffee sector made up almost half of Ethiopia’s gross domestic product, 84% of exports and 80% of total employment.