Coffee is one of the most important agricultural products globally and serves as the backbone of Ethiopia’s economy. However, the export market is currently experiencing a downward trend that requires urgent attention. This situation has led not only to a loss of revenue but also to a decline in the number of productive farmers. Additionally, issues such as illegal trade and questionable coffee quality further complicate the sector. Coffee marketing, price instability, and limited market access have long been significant bottlenecks for the industry.
In an interview with Capital, Cheru Koru, CEO of Market Intelligence at the Ethiopia Coffee and Tea Authority, discussed the increase in coffee production driven by microeconomic transformation and the government’s crackdown on illegal trade.
Another pressing concern in the country is the illegal distribution of unregulated drugs. While some of these products are produced domestically, insufficient imports mean that over 80 percent of pharmaceutical products must be imported at high prices. The sector has been urged to focus on the fact that it is not being adequately monitored and inspected. Worku Bedada, PhD, a lecturer and pharmacist, shared his insights during his time with Capital on the challenges and ongoing issues surrounding the illicit drug trade.
Capital: The illegal coffee trade in the country continues. What is the government doing about it?
Cheru: Illegal coffee trafficking has been an ongoing issue, presenting challenges to the growth of coffee exports. To combat this, the Authority is collaborating with various agencies in the sector to prevent illegal immigrants from originating in legal destinations. One of the strategies is to enhance the profitability of the coffee sector and to bring illegal operations into compliance.
As a result, the control system that was previously managed manually has now been automated and integrated with new software. We are actively monitoring the legality of coffee from its source to its destination. If any illegal activities are detected, we are taking appropriate action according to established regulations.
In this approach, a percentage of the product involved in illegal transportation will be allocated to those who helped prevent it. Specifically, 20% will be given to the agency that physically oversees the operation, 20% will go toward the development of the area where the product was stored, and 20% will be dedicated to capacity building. We are providing incentives to the organizations directly involved in these efforts.
Capital: What distinguishes the quality of Ethiopian coffee from that of other countries?
Cheru: The quality of Ethiopian coffee is non-negotiable. We are raising awareness, particularly among those directly involved in the marketing chain. Given the current competitive economic landscape, there are ongoing efforts to promote coffee production in the country. Historically, no more than 25% of specialty coffee was exported, but this figure has increased year on year to 46% of all coffee exports.
Capital: What challenges does the supply chain face regarding the export of goods and services in the country?
Cheru: It is challenging to determine the exact amount of coffee stock currently available in the country because coffee transactions occur daily, making verification difficult. If today’s production volume increases, tomorrow’s may decrease. Coffee will be transported from the regions to Addis Ababa for export. There are no supply issues with coffee at this time.
This year, we expect to export about 400,000 tonnes of coffee, projecting around $2 billion in revenue.
In this context, there is an inverse relationship between domestic consumption and exports. According to national laws, most of the coffee produced is designated for export. As a nation, we face a currency shortage and are one of the largest importers of foreign exchange from agricultural commodities. Therefore, whenever exports increase, domestic consumption tends to decrease, leading to price increases due to supply shortages.
It’s important to note that coffee is not directly supplied to the country; rather, by-products from the export process allow it to be sold domestically. The law permits us to use 15% pure coffee content and 85% blended coffee in the country, meaning that pure coffee content is essential for export and exchange.
Capital: Today, the country’s coffee production is increasing. What is driving this rise? Is there a shortage of resources?
Cheru: One reason for the increase in domestic coffee production is a recent economic reform. This reform has nearly doubled the profits for exporters. Previously, the price of coffee was 57 birr, but it has now soared to 120 birr. As a result, exporters are reluctant to let any product go to waste. With these profits in mind, they quickly send the coffee abroad. There are between one and five quality levels within this sector, and coffee that was once sold locally as a by-product can now be improved to achieve a level five export quality.
This shift means that coffee previously designated for domestic consumption is now being exported at lower quality levels. Consequently, domestic production is declining, which will likely continue to drive up prices in the market.
Capital: What is the extent and nature of the illicit drug trade in Ethiopia?
Worku: Currently, we lack a comprehensive national study to determine the size of the illicit drug trade. However, several studies indicate that it is a significant concern. For instance, a recent examination of malaria drugs in Gambella revealed that most of these drugs are not legally registered and do not meet required standards. This suggests that the country is struggling with a major crisis. These findings indicate that drug activity in Ethiopia is predominantly illegal and requires urgent attention.
Capital: What are the implications for the supply and movement of illegal drugs in Ethiopia, particularly from an economic perspective?
Worku: Essentially, Ethiopia does not produce or export drugs, meaning that most drugs are imported and sold for foreign currency. As a result, Ethiopia only derives 8 to 12 percent of the market from domestic production, while up to 88 percent comes from imports.
This situation means that the economy suffers significantly when billions of dollars are lost to smugglers trafficking drugs into the country. Furthermore, these drugs are often of low quality and pose serious health risks. The impact on public health could be severe, potentially leading to unprecedented deaths. Economically, the prices of illegally imported products will increase due to a lack of regulation. Additionally, their penetration into the community may make them more affordable, but they will not be readily available.
Capital: What are the causes of illicit drug trade?
Worku: Illegal traders involved in this sector are well aware of its potential. They identify prevalent health issues in the country and take steps to exploit them. For example, many drugs were repeatedly exposed during the coronavirus pandemic, and now illegal malaria drugs are widespread.
The Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority recently announced that seven types of illegal drugs have been identified. This indicates that these illicit products are almost infiltrating our households.
Capital: Who is responsible for the illicit drug trade?
Worku: The responsibility likely falls on both the regulatory body and the manufacturing companies. First, there are only 14 factories in the country that are functioning properly, all of which are limited in capacity and owned by the Joint. Second, the pharmacies that have received these illegal drugs share part of the blame. Some private pharmacies, which were registered to sell only in government hospitals, have been found to be involved, indicating that the government is both issuing and receiving drugs through unofficial channels. If there were a robust regulatory system in place, these parties could be held accountable.
Capital: What should be the role of law enforcement in combating illegal drug trade?
Worku: The Federal Police and the Customs Commission play significant roles in prevention. However, both entities have repeatedly stated that this issue is beyond their control due to the disproportionate power and influence involved. This challenge is exacerbated by the close monitoring of the situation by the Food and Drug Authority of Ethiopia.
We struggle to control the drugs that are even released from government facilities, making it unlikely we can stop the flow from other sources. Therefore, the first step must be to enhance efforts and establish a strict regulatory system, particularly to manage critical medications that may be taken from government facilities into private homes.
As an expert in this field, I find the regulatory framework problematic at both the federal and state levels. For instance, the Federal Food and Drug Authority lacks direct communication with state authorities, creating a significant gap. In my view, establishing a single unified federal agency for the drug control system could lead to meaningful change.
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