Bolaven coffee exports to go off the boil this year
Bolaven coffee exports to go off the boil this year
Coffee exports from the Bolaven Plateau in southern Laos are expected to decline in the 2017 fiscal year as a result of unfavourable weather while some coffee growers have switched to cassava instead.
That was the short-term assessment from the local coffee growers group which was determined to assist its members.
President of the Bolaven Plateau Coffee Producers Cooperative (CPC), Mr Bounthong Thepkasone, told Vientiane Times yesterday that since being created in 2007 with the support of the Lao government and French Development Agency (AFD), the Cooperative is a prime example of what is possible when small-scale farmers join forces.
CPC's objective is to represent Bolaven Plateau coffee producers at the government level, within the coordination bodies of the Lao coffee supply chain at domestic and international levels, and for all activities related to coffee.
In addition, it provides its members with technical assistance in all aspects of coffee production and supports them with coffee marketing and promotion.
The Cooperative has been exporting more than 1,000 tonnes of organic coffee per year to a range of foreign countries.
France is the top overseas buyer at some 800 tonnes annually.
The CPC and its development partners have supported local farmers in Pakxong district, Champassak province, Thataeng district, Xekong province and Lao-ngam district, Saravan province to increase the cultivation of organic coffee for sale to local and foreign markets.
Its members comprise 1,391 families from three provinces, including 826 families engaged in the organic process. There are also 56 producers' groups, including 36 groups who farm coffee organically.
�In 2015-2016, the CPC exported 1,300 tonnes of Arabica and Robusta coffee but we expect to export 1,026 tonnes in 2017, a decrease of 95 tonnes as a result of unfavourable weather while some coffee growers have switched to growing cassava instead,� Mr Bounthong said.
�However, the Cooperative will be able to grow and export more than 1,300 tonnes of Arabica and Robusta coffee in 2017-2018,� he added.
�We export 85 percent of the Arabica and Robusta coffee produced while 15 percent of roasted coffee sells on the domestic market,� Mr Bounthong said.
The Lao Coffee Association reported that most of the crop was exported to France, Chinese Taiwan, Italy, Japan, Spain, Poland, Germany, USA, Belgium, Sweden, Thailand and Vietnam.
Due to a slump in coffee prices on the world market, the sale price of Lao coffee and export volumes have been declining in recent years.
In 2013, Laos exported 30,000 tonnes of coffee valued at US$72 million. In 2014, total coffee exports dropped to 26,000 tonnes valued at US$60 million while in 2015 exports fell further to 23,000 tonnes valued at US$50 million.
