Pursuing climate resilient coffee in Ethiopia – A critical review

Abstract

This paper provides a multi--scalar examination of the Ethiopian coffee sector and its pursuit of climate resilience. Concern is growing about the potential impact of climate change on Arabica coffee in Ethiopia and the 25 million livelihoods it supports. Arabica coffee has a relatively narrow envelope of climatic suitability and recent studies suggest that the area of bioclimatically suitable space for the species in its native Ethiopia could decline dramatically in the coming decades. We adopt a critical perspective on resilience that reflects on the situated nature of the ecology/science of coffee and climate change and the operation of social, economic, and discursive power across scales, paying particular attention to the differentiated impacts of climate change and associated resilience strategies. This analysis begins by reviewing Ethiopia's Climate Resilient Green Economy strategy and argues that the current lack of attention to coffee is inappropriate considering the coffee sector's vulnerability to climate change, economic importance and association with forests. The paper then examines the contemporary coffee sector which provides the context for reflecting on three potential responses to the threat climate change poses; a spatial response from farmers, adaptive farm management responses such as changing shade levels and the development of the country's genetic resources to cultivate improved varieties. The analysis explores the disconnect between the interventions emerging from national and international institutions and the local context. The multi--scale approach highlights the presence of complex normative trade--offs associated with pursing climate resilience strategies and reinforces the importance of appreciating the dynamics which influence decision--making in the country.

Climate change and specialty coffee potential in Ethiopia

“…Ethiopia is the largest coffee producer in Africa and the third-largest Arabica coffee producer in the world by volume and value following Brazil and Colombia 34 . Almost all of the coffee is produced by about 5 million smallholder farmers in forest or agroforestry systems, producing an average of 400 000 tonnes with an estimated export value of over US$1 billion 35 , 36 . In addition, over 10% of the total cropland for commercial agriculture is allocated to coffee production, with coffee exports contributing about a third of all agricultural exports 36 , 37 .…”

The structures underpinning vulnerability: examining landscape-society interactions in a smallholder coffee agroforestry system

“…The ability of farmers to adapt to climate change is dependent on the extent to which they are 'entitled to make use of resources' [36], a factor largely governed by social structures. Hirons et al [37] identify several structural issues which influence the resilience and vulnerability of coffee farmers in Ethiopia. These include the national policy priorities, rules and laws concerning the management of shade on farms, access to, and character of, agricultural extension and the structure of the coffee market.…”

Influence of Seed Initial Moisture Content, Storage Condition and Time of Storage on Seedling Growth Stages of Coffee (Coffea Arabica L.)

“…Coffee has enormous economic, social and environmental significance in Ethiopia. But despite its enormous genetic variability, favorable ecology for production and its importance in the national economy of the country, productivity of the crop remained much lower than released varieties yielding potential which primarily associated to use of poor seed that result in poor seedlings causing poor establishment in the field (Alemayehu et al 2008;Mojo et al 2017;Nasiro et al 2017;Hirons et al 2018).…”