Progress Report November 2007 June 2008

CABI Ref: CF 10001

Progress Report November 2007 – June 2008

August 2008

Developing the Potential of the Gourmet Robusta Market – Gabon and Togo

Dr. Charles Agwanda (CABIAfrica)

Dr.Komlan Wegbe (CCFCC)

Mr. Aubin AK AHA (Caistab)

CFC/ICO/42 – Progress Report November 2007 – June 2008

Developing the potential of Gourmet Robusta Coffee - Gabon and Togo

(CFC/ICO/42)

Project Progress Report

November 2007 – June 2008

Submitted by:CABIAfrica

Prepared by:

Dr. Charles Agwanda (CABI Africa)

Dr. Komlan Wegbe (CCFCC)

Mr. Aubin AK AHA (Caistab)

CFC/ICO/42 – Progress Report November 2007 – June 2008

PROGRESS REPORT

I.Project Summary:

Title: Developing the Potential of the Gourmet Robusta Market – Gabon and Togo

Number: CFC/ICO/42

PEA: CABIAfrica.

Participating countries: Gabon (Caistab) and Togo(CCFCC). Findings will be extended to Guinée (Fédération Nationale des Exportateurs Et Producteurs de Café et Cacao, Conakry).

Starting date: November 2007

Completion date:November 2010

Financing:

Total Project CostUS$2,526,694

of which,

CFC FinancingUS$1,782,113

Counterpart contributionsUS$709,125

II.Period covered by this report:

From: November 2007 To: June 2008

Periods covered by previous reports:

None

III. Status of Project Implementation

1

CFC/ICO/42 – Progress Report November 2007 – June 2008

IV Resource Utilisation

No CFC project funds were used by the Implementing Agencies during the period January – June 2008. Gabon mobilised its own funds to take care of the activities as they completed the formalities for opening the project accounts while Togo pre-financed their activities for similar reasons.

V.1: Assessment of Technical Progress:

V.1.1.Component I - Improving quality and productivity in existing coffee

Activity 1.1 - Conduct a baseline study in the key selected zones

The objective of this activity is to gather baseline information on the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers targeted by the project as well as their production, processing and marketing practices. The information would subsequently forms the basis for monitoring changes in socio-economic status of the project beneficiaries as well as the impact of the project on improvement of production, processing and marketing practices. The study was initiated in Togo in May 2008. Structured questionnaires were developed and administered. Out of the 500 farmers selected to take part in the project, 25% will be covered by the study. In Gabon, no smallholder farmers existed in the project areas. The first activity by the Caisses de Stabilisation et de Péréquation(Caistab) was therefore to recruit potential farmers to take up the former government farms once such farms have been rehabilitated. The study could likewise not be initiated amongst the few existing smallholder farmers since Caistab’s immediate concern is to secure farmers interests in coffee and to provide technical and financial assistance to such farmers. It is once the confidence of the farmers on coffee is restored when such a study could be conducted and meaningful results realised.

Activity 1.2:Identify the groups and sites for establishment of gourmet coffee production

Locations for establishing the gourmet coffee project was identified in the main coffee growing zones in both Gabon and Togo. These included Alanga, Onjeye, Onguia, Oyou, Kiri 1, Kiri 2, Kele, OmoÏ, Otala, Okango, Obia, Oyogo, Bakoumba, Leconi, Ossouele and Odjalain Gabon and Montagne Kloto-Dayes, Kpélé – Amou, Plateau d’Akposso and Akébou in Togo. Basic characteristics of the four zones identified in Togoare as shown in Table 1 below whereas information on the project sites in Gabon are indicated in Table 2.

Table 1.Basic environmental statistics for the coffee zones selected for the pilot project on Gourmrnt Robusta in Togo

Table 2. Sites selected for the pilot project in Gabon indicating total area under coffee

Concerning the groups to be involved in the project in Togo, priority was given to farmers already organised into farmers’ groups/societies. A few individual farmers were also included to provide complementary data which could be used in comparing the two systems. Sensitisation campaigns were then organised in six locations (Table 3), covering all the four zones. A total of 262 farmers were reached during the campaign. The participants during the sensitisation campaigns were taken through the project goals and objectives, expected outcome of the project and the institutional framework within which the project will be undertaken.

Table 3. Sensitisation activities on Gourmet coffee project in Togo

Following the sensitisation meetings, farmers were requested to identify individuals to be included in the pilot study and to agree on the sites in which the demonstration plots would be established. A total of 500 farmers were subsequently identified and 12 demonstration sites identified.

Activity 1.3Arrange credit for inputs supply for farmers

This activity is in recognition of the fact that the project provides for basic processing facilities but does not address the important issue of fertilisers and pesticides. Appropriate fertiliser and pesticide application is important in producing large heavy beans which can be sold in the gourmet market. The activity was initiated in both Gabon and Togo. In the case of Gabon, Caistab, will provide all the inputs necessary to rehabilitate the coffee farmers on grant basis until the farms start to be economically viable. The institution will likewise provide any additional equipment necessary to ensure project success. This decision was reached at given the current conditions of the coffee farms in the country and the need to inspire confidence among producers to get back to coffee production. In the case of Togo, theComité de Coordination pour les Filières Café et Cacao (CCFCC) has made arrangement for financing of fertiliser and insecticides on loan basis. Modalities for recovery of the loans still under discussion.

Activity 1.4:Training of extension workers and trainers

The activity aims at providing Extension workers and other Trainers with skills and knowledge on good agricultural and processing practices including pruning, weeding, mulching, use of fertilizers/pesticides, post-harvest handling, processing, traceability, storage and handling during transportation. This involves participatory development of training curricular and training calendar that takes account of the seasonal activities. The activity has been initiated in Togo where staff of the CCFCC as well asthe lead farmers have been trained on coffee processing. Gabon initiated the activity by providing training to their key staff involved in rehabilitation prior to the launch of the project. Additional training on processing and other agronomic practices are scheduled for the third quarter of the year in line with the seasonal activities expected during the period.

Activity 1.5:Guidelines for G A P for Gourmet Robusta

Compliant with major certification initiatives such as the Common Code for the Coffee Community (4C) requirements is expected to open new markets also. The activity is therefore aimed at providing training on guidelines for G A P for gourmet robusta in line with the 4C Code Matrix. The resulting coffee will then be verified by accredited certifiers for compliance with 4C code. While no specific mention of the 4C has been done, the training currently being undertaken takes into account the elements of the 4C matrix.

V.1.2:Component II - Seedling multiplication and improved varieties

Activity 2.1:Clearing of existing mother gardens and establishment of nurseries

Availability of seedlings of improved varieties is one of the key factors expected to determine how successful the revitalisation efforts in both Gabon and Togo will be. In the case of Togo, improved varieties already exist and selected clones established in MotherGardens at Centre de recherche agronomique de la zone forestière (CRAF) at Kpalime. The mother gardens however suffered as a result of prolonged periods of neglect. This years activities therefore involved the restoration of existing but formerly neglected mother gardens and establishment of seedling nurseries in key locations in the coffee growing zones. Existing mother gardens in Kpalime were cleared, seven improved clones identified for the purposes of producing suckers to be used in raising seedlings. A total of 11,400 cuttings already set in the propagators.

In the case of Gabon, no improved varieties exist in the country. Consequently the rehabilitation program is dependent on varieties developed in other countries, particularly, Cote d’Ivoire and Cameroon. Substantial quantities of seed were imported from Cote d’Ivoire and germinated in the nurseries established in the key rehabilitation areas.

Activity 2.2:Establish of 10 demonstration plots in each country

Demonstration plots form an important component of farmer training in perennial crops such as coffee. For the showcase sites to be successful, it is expected that each training plot should not accommodate more than 30 farmers. Establishment of demonstration plots was therefore initiated in Togo in order to demonstrate good agronomic practices to the project farmers. Twelve demonstration plots each measuring 0.5 hectares were identified for this purpose. In the case of Gabon this activity took the form of rehabilitation of selected parcels so that farmers can learn as their parcels get rehabilitated. Progress made in this regard is summarised in Tables 4 - 6

Table 4. Coffee Bloc at Alanga

Table 5. Coffee Bloc at Ondzeï

Table 6. Rented Plantations

V.1.3:Component III:Improved quality – sun-dried robusta

Activity 3.1:Training farmers and groups in post-harvest handling

The objective underlying this activity is to train at least 1000 farmers in Togo and 500 in Gabon on improved post-harvest handling resulting into premium prices being realised for the resultant coffee. The activity is yet to be initiated since neither of the project countries has undertaken coffee harvesting.

Activity 3.2:Supply of drying equipment to farmers

This activity aims at procuring coffee processing equipment, installing the equipment in selected farms and training the beneficiaries in the use of the equipment. The procurement of the facilities has not been initiated in both countries. However, modalities have been put in place to identify and procure appropriate drying equipment and supply the same to the identified farmers.

Activity 3.3:Monitoring sale of the coffee - traceability

The activity aims at ensuring that the coffee produced using good agricultural practices is traced along the production and marketing chain and that appropriate premiums are relayed back to the farmers. This will involve careful monitoring of the sale of the project coffee, to ensure that traceability is maintained through the marketing chain. No activity was undertaken in respect to traceability since harvesting was yet to be undertaken.

Component 4:Machinery and equipment for washed robusta coffee

This component includes the supply of hand-pulping equipment to small-holders to enable them to produce washed robusta coffee. It also includes enhancing existing export processing facilities to make them suitable for milling parchment coffee (from the washing process), and to ensure a gourmet quality output. The activity is yet to be initiated.