The Discourse on Coffee Processing and Marketing in Limmu Awraja Southwestern Ethiopia in the Twentieth Century

Abstract

To examine the discourse of coffee processing and marketing in Limmu awraja, various archival documents, reports, interviews and secondary literature are analyzed by cross-checking one another. In the twentieth century, Limmu awraja became the center of coffee production in southwestern part of Ethiopia.  As a result, coffee becomes a viable product for peasants and merchants. Although traditional processing and marketing of coffee was dominant, the Ethiopian Coffee Board (ECB) and pulping and hulling stations introduced a huge change in the sector. Aside from the government's efforts, private firms played a critical role in coffee quality assurance. Consequently, both wet and dry-processed coffee were produced for domestic and international markets in quantity and quality. However, there were problems that impeded the processing and marketing of coffee, such as inadequate infrastructure, a poorly organized marketing system, Coffee Berry Disease, fluctuating coffee prices, high local consumption, and weak trade policies. Therefore, this study examines the change and continuity in the growth of the coffee processing and marketing sector in Limma awraja of Kaffa governorate general.

Keywords: Coffee Marketing, Coffee Processing, Kaffa Governorate, Limmu Awraja, Southwestern Ethiopia

DOI: 10.7176/JMCR/91-03

Publication date: November 30^th 2023