A study case on coffee (Coffea arabica): Limu Coffe - IRD

“It is also the coffee type. It took its name from the Kaffa province 1
where it grows
spontaneously, and where, once ripened, it is picked without any effort by the natives as a
wild fruit. I found out about this in many scholarly books: all admit that south western
Abyssinia is the only country of the world where coffee grows as a natural soil product.
Weather conditions not found elsewhere in the universe, the alliance between tropical heat
and mountainous altitudes realized in this Earth paradise the unique miracle.”
Ménélik et nous, Hugues le Roux (Paris, 1903)
Coffea Arabica L., as it has been written and rewritten, finds its birthplace in south
western Ethiopian forests even if Linnaeus gave its scientific name in 1753 paying tribute to
his future country. The relationship between Ethiopians and coffee is deep-rooted, and coffee
production and consumption are closely intertwined with Ethiopian history, culture and
economy. Coffee has been cultivated, traded and consumed over centuries and still play a
significant role in the daily life of most Ethiopians and for the state of Ethiopia as a whole
(Stellmacher, 2007). As told me Ato Tarreessa Fayisa, a peasant living Limu Genet (Limu
Kosa woreda, Jima zone, Oromiya region): “Coffee is the backbone of our life”. Coffee
production is of highest importance for monetary income generation, followed by honey and
livestock production. Farmers realizing income through surplus of any production rely on
coffee since the greatest share of income is gained through coffee production which is the
surplus production archetype. Economic development is depending on it for further
diversification of activities. Moreover, due to the origin and centre of the genetic diversity of
Coffea arabica lays in the south western region of Ethiopia, the historical Kaffa zone, it
represents a treasure for global breeding benefits (future breeding programmes estimated as
high as US$ 1-2billion) as well as it means for local farmers the most important source of
income 2
(Urich, 2005). Some tools like geographical indications are currently developed to
link these economic benefits and conservation goals.
1 The scientific community agrees to recognize that the vulgar name coffee comes from the Arabic word qahwa
which used to mean wine before having been applied to coffee beans or husk decoctions (Mercier, 1980-2).
2 Refer Annex: Sources of income.
2