Narayan Kafle1* and Basu Dev Kaphle2
1 Prime Minister Agriculture Modernization Project (PMAMP), Project Implementation Unit , Gulmi
2 National Potato, Vegetables and Spice Crop Development Center, Kirtipur, Kathmadu
*Corresponding authors' email: narankaphle@gmail.com
*ORCID ID: 0000-0002-3339-4099
Abstract
This study was conducted in 2019 AD purposively selecting coffee super zone districts; Gulmi, Arghakhanchi, Palpa, Syanja and Pyuthan to know the current status of coffee sub-sector.The major objective of this study is to examine coffee production, productivity, practices adopted for value addition, adopted marketing system and prioritized problem of coffee sector. Pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire was used to 160 coffee producers focussing on intended objectives of research. The study revealed that the area covered (220 ha) and average productivity (16 t./ ha fresh cherry) was highest in Syanja district. Majority (56.40%) coffee producers were found with sorting and grading fresh cherries as well as dried cherries before selling them. Gulmi district leads in cooperative groups/federation managed organic certification system to maintain its specialty quality. Although there is tremendous scope to improve the quality of coffee to be recognized as specialty coffee in these district for an international niche market, there is declining attraction towards coffee production due to some biotic problems like destruction by coffee white stem borer, coffee rust as well as some plant damage by abiotic problem like frost and hail stone and poor orchard management practices. Despite the problems faced by farmers at these districts, the income generation of the devout coffee producers' has been increased rapidly in recent years due to high demand of coffee in international market with the potentiality of expansion (0.34 ha) of coffee per household in these districts.Therefore, findings of this study underscore need of strengthening research programs and noble technologies.
Keywords: Biotic problems, income generation, technologies, entrepreneurs