Zimbabwe Coffee returns to top spot
Zimbabwe’s coffee business is finally back to the top where it belongs after years of failing. International companies are making a u-turn willing to pay a premium for the country’s coffee beans.
Foreign companies like Nestle’s Nespresso are now willing to pay 30 to 40 percent more above international prices.
Speaking on the quality of the African country coffee, Daniel Weston, Nestle Nespresso head of legal and corporate communications said, “The reason for us buying from Zimbabwe is the incredible coffee profiles, something that we strongly want to offer to our consumers. And being here in Zimbabwe is very significant for us to work with small scale farmers as well as with the estates.”
When more than 100 white commercial coffee farmers took off during the post-colonial reformation in Zimbabwe so did foreign coffee buyers.
The report has it that the coffee industry fell to less than three percent production and prices plumped resulting in many farmers giving up on the cash crop.
David Muganyura, who is among the 400 small-holder farmers that are returning to grow coffee, encouraged the recent interest in the production of coffee on the global markets and increased interest among coffee connoisseurs.
“Many are already interested including the sale proceeds that we received. Lots are joining, and we expect in 3 years down the line, 4000 farmers will emerge or registered in Honde Valley,” said David Muganyura, a coffee farmer.
Zimbabwe was not included among the world’s top coffee producers however it was known for doing great business in the 1990s with results peaked at around 15,000 tonnes providing a livelihood for more than 20,000 small scale farmers. The prized taste of its Arabica coffee as zesty with fruity tones has created its demand once more.
