Italy’s Role in Supporting the African Coffee Sector.. Challenges and Opportunities
Coffee is one of the most important export commodities in Uganda, accounting for 30% of the country’s foreign exchange revenues. At the Rimini 2024 Forum, Fred Bwino Kyakulaga, Uganda’s Minister of State for Agriculture, stated that his country earned $1.14 billion from coffee exports last year, making it the world’s fifth-largest coffee producer.
Despite the fact that 75% of Uganda’s coffee production is exported, coffee farmers receive only a small portion of the revenues from their production. While espresso coffee sellers earn $107.4 per kilogram of green coffee, farmers receive only $3.3 for the same amount.
One of the main challenges facing the coffee sector in Africa is the impact of climate change and the low resilience of coffee plantations. Kyakulaga expressed his concern over Uganda’s limited research on the types of coffee cultivated, which has weakened the value chain. With the worsening effects of climate change and a lack of research, Kyakulaga highlighted the urgent need to diversify production and increase its value.
Andrea Illy, Chairman of Illy Coffee, emphasized the importance of supporting producing countries to improve agricultural practices and urgently renew coffee plantations. Solomon S. Rutega, Secretary General of the Inter-African Coffee Organization, reiterated the organization’s commitment to addressing challenges and leveraging the opportunities available to the African continent through an innovative vision aimed at adding value across the supply chain.
Italy, as one of the largest donors, renews its commitment to supporting the African coffee sector in collaboration with UNIDO. Gunther Beger, Director of the Department of Economic Transformation and Innovation at UNIDO, affirmed that Africa represents a significant opportunity for Italy, expressing his satisfaction with the close cooperation between the two countries to improve the value chain and support local production.
Edmondo Cirielli, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, pointed out that the Italian Climate Fund could be an effective tool to support this vital sector. The forum also witnessed the signing of a joint declaration between UNIDO and the Inter-African Coffee Organization, pledging to collaborate to achieve sustainable development goals in the coffee sector.
It is noteworthy that the Rimini Forum this year was held from August 20 to 25, 2024, in the city of Rimini, Italy, at the Rimini Exhibition Center. The forum featured a wide range of prominent figures from various fields, including political leaders, business professionals, and intellectuals. The forum discussed a variety of global issues, with a particular focus on the challenges and opportunities related to the coffee sector in Africa and Italy’s role in supporting this sector through international cooperation and developmental initiatives.
