A Feasibility Study of Public Private Partnership in Sustainable Ethiopia’s Coffee Quality Improvement Programme

Abstract

The rainforests of the south western Ethiopian highlands are recognised as
the birthplace of Coffea arabica. Ethiopia is the only country in the world
where Coffea Arabica (L.) can be found in the wild. The forests that once
dominated the highlands are considerably diminished during the last
decades. This poses a massive threat to the survival of the genetic resources of Coffea Arabica, 99.8% of the genetic diversity of which is in Ethiopia. As a result, the diversity at origin of some 2,000 or more coffee varieties – unique in the world – is in danger of being irretrievably lost. The monastery islands and environ of Lake Tana had coffee from the South west forests planted 400 years ago by King Fassil of Gonder. This has created a natural ex-situ gene bank in an area otherwise covered with forest. Civilian population pressure since 1974 has reduced the forest for firewood and timber incomes and coffee has been neglected especially during the low price periods. In order to address these issues with sustainable livelihoods, the feasibility of a PPP programme is being studied, incorporating the governments with NGOs and private partners. This paper comprehensively analyses the approaches to study the feasibility and status of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) in Amhara region specially Zegey peninsula and Lake Tana Island coffee quality improvement. To collect the required information interviews were conducted with concerned stakeholders and a simple questionnaire also prepared and distributed to coffee producing farmers in Amharic language.

Key words: Quality Coffee Berries, Pre & Post Harvesting method, Amhara
region- Zegey Peninsula, Feasibility of PPP assistance