Ethiopia's Coffee and Tea Authority announced plans to establish four new coffee tasting centers, aiming to significantly enhance quality control for its exports. This initiative is part of a broader commitment to fostering a sustainable environment for coffee cultivation and improving export processes.
This development follows a period of record-breaking coffee production for Ethiopia, with output surpassing 1.2 million tons in the current fiscal year. Despite this success, the nation continues to grapple with the persistent challenge of illicit coffee trade. Stakeholders from federal and regional security, agriculture, and trade sectors recently convened to strategize collaborative approaches to curb these illegal activities, which undermine the sector's achievements.
Adugna Debela (PhD), Director General of the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority, highlighted the substantial progress made in both the quality and quantity of coffee produced, crediting various initiatives. However, he emphasized the critical need for continued vigilance against illegal trade practices, noting that while approximately 409,000 tons of coffee have been exported in the past 11 months, ongoing illicit activities present significant challenges to market stability.
The upcoming tasting centers are expected to play a crucial role in ensuring that all exported coffee meets the highest standards, further bolstering Ethiopia's reputation as a premier coffee producer.