Africa Economy: Kenya to host African coffee conference

More than 1,000 coffee producers from across the world are to meet in Nairobi next week to address the challenges facing the coffee value chain and, particularly, the dipping production levels, organizers said on Friday.

The 12th African Fine Coffee Conference and Exhibition (AFCC & E), to be held from Feb. 12-14, will bring together delegates from all over the world and from diverse countries that include Germany, South Africa, United States, Switzerland, Japan, China, Netherlands and Italy.

African Fine Coffees Association executive director Samuel Kamau said the conference is Africa's leading platform for gathering valuable coffee information, building trade relations and buyer and seller interaction.

"The conference further provides delegates with a unique opportunity to celebrate the host country's unique coffees and beauty through its coffee safaris and themed side social events," Kamau said in a statement issued in Nairobi.

He said the forum will provide a fantastic line-up of internationally acclaimed speakers with deep knowledge on coffee matters and an opportunity for companies showcasing the best coffees and affiliated services.

The director said the meeting comes as African coffee industry, whilst rich in variety of coffees, has struggled tremendously to gain back the influence it enjoyed in the early 1970s within the coffee producing world.

"Overshadowed by South American and Asian producers, its mark and significance has often been under looked on the world stage," he said, adding that the meeting will review ways of increasing coffee productivity.

The East African nation plans to increase its coffee production to 60,000 tonnes annually up from the current 49,000 tonnes by the end of 2016.

Principal Secretary for Agricultural, Livestock and Fisheries Sicily Kariuki said recently that already 20,000 new farmers will begin to cultivate coffee farming in 2015.

"The government will also include coffee as a crop that is eligible for subsidized fertilizer," Kariuki said ahead of meeting.

In Kenya about 70 percent of coffee is produced by over 700,000 small-holder coffee growers while it is estimated that more than six million Kenyans are employed either directly or indirectly in the coffee industry.

The East African nation has witnessed a dramatic decline in coffee production from the 1990s due to various reasons such as low prices, expansion of real estate and pressure from other competing crops. Despite this, Kenyan coffee remains highly prized and reputable as premier sought after coffee the world over.

Now as a result of increase in private sector, government efforts in research and production, exports have increased from 541,000 bags in 2008 to 850,000 bags in 2013.

"This conference will seek to bring delegates to Kenya to raise fundamental questions on how Africa can reclaim its position on the world stage and what we can learn from our fellow producers from Asia and South America," Kamau said.

He noted that the three-day forum will also provide Kenya with an opportunity to "tell its coffee story", meet potential new buyers, discuss the latest in research, show case its beauty and market insights from around the world. Endi