Ethiopia Launches Strategic New Phase for Tea Development

Addis Ababa – Qahwa World

In the Jimma Zone of Oromia, a major tea development initiative has been launched under the leadership of Dr. Meles Mekonnen and Dr. Adonya Debela, with participation from senior government officials, aiming to enhance national agricultural productivity.

Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed highlighted that this initiative represents a strategic effort to elevate Ethiopia’s tea production, strengthening the national economy and expanding domestic and international market reach.

Dr. Adonya Debela, Director General of the sector, noted that over 13,000 hectares are currently planted with tea, with plans to expand to 30,000 hectares in the near future, focusing on fertile lands in Oromia and southwestern Ethiopia.

You may like: Coffee Interpretation Center Inaugurated in Ethiopia

Officials emphasized that the project leverages natural resources and local human capacity, supported by continuous monitoring from the regional agriculture office, ensuring high productivity and quality.

Gitu Gemechu, head of Oromia’s Agriculture Bureau, added that tea development receives “strategic priority,” and the expansion will not only increase production but also enhance product quality and the region’s role in local and global markets.

Overall, the Jimma project marks a transition from traditional farming practices to organized industrial development, reflecting Ethiopia’s ambition to strengthen its position as a leading global tea producer, while engaging investors and farmers to secure long-term sustainability and economic success.

Germany Earns More From Coffee Than Producing African Nations

Berlin – September 14, 2025 – (Qahwa World) – Germany, a country that does not grow coffee, has become one of the most influential players in the global coffee industry, earning more from exports than all African producing nations combined. In 2024, Germany exported over 473,000 tonnes of coffee worth €6 billion, largely by importing raw beans from producing countries and re-exporting them after processing and branding.

Africa, home to 18 coffee-exporting countries including Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Rwanda, remains dependent on raw bean exports. Uganda recently overtook Ethiopia as the continent’s leading exporter, shipping nearly 800,000 bags in May 2025 alone, worth $243 million. Ethiopia, long considered the historic heart of coffee, followed with 43,481 tonnes during the same period. Data from the International Coffee Organization covering March 2023 to February 2024 shows Uganda shipped over six million bags, compared with Ethiopia’s 3.5 million, while other producers such as Tanzania, Côte d’Ivoire, and Kenya trailed with far smaller volumes.

The disparity lies in value addition. A KPMG study as far back as 2014 highlighted that Africa exported coffee worth $6 billion while the global coffee industry exceeded $100 billion, driven by roasting, blending, packaging, branding, and sustainable certification. Germany has built its dominance on precisely these steps, importing nearly one million tonnes of green coffee in 2023, 91 percent directly from producing nations. Brazil supplied the largest share at 341,000 tonnes, followed by Vietnam, Honduras, Uganda, Colombia, and India. Even when imports declined by 17 percent that year, Germany’s reserves ensured its exports continued without disruption.

The contrast underscores a hard truth: while coffee was born in Africa, most of its wealth is captured elsewhere. Unless producing nations invest in roasting, branding, and specialty development at origin, they will remain suppliers of raw beans while others reap the greater rewards.