HARARE – Zimbabwe’s once thriving coffee industry has virtually collapsed due to President Robert Mugabe’s chaotic and often violent land reform programme over the past decade, a growers union has said.

The coffee, which used to record output increases until 2000, when the government started its land reform programme that saw experienced white farmers evicted from the land to be replaced by mostly inexperienced or under-funded black villagers who were unable to maintain production.

According to a report by the Coffee Growers Association (CGA) presented at the Commercial Farmers Union (CFU)’s annual general meeting this week, output will be around 500 tonnes this year, down 93 percent on the 2001 figure of 7 260 tonnes. The report sees production further falling to 300 tonnes in 2010.

"This national crop is what one large scale producer was able to produce in the nineties, which is an indication of just how far we have fallen," the CGA said.

"It is astounding to note that no meaningful coffee has ever been produced on a coffee farm taken, beyond the year of the takeover."

Before the controversial invasions, the industry had projected expanding production to 20 000 tonnes by 2004, which would have put the country within sight of big East African producers Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda by the end of the decade.

Zimbabwe used to export its world renowned – arabica brand of coffee to the European market.

"The future of this sector is very bleak. In order for the coffee industry to restart, the return of tradable title deeds needs to happen to allow for both the farmer and the banker to be secure with their respective investments," the CGA said.

Meanwhile, CFU president Trevor Gifford said commercial farmers were not happy at the slow pace of addressing land invasions despite the setting up of the inclusive government between once long time rivals Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

"Farmers were hopeful of a moratorium on all prosecutions and evictions and that dispossessed farmers would be engaged to resolve their needs. Regrettably, nothing has changed," Gifford told the congress.

"Government continues to acquire more land and prosecute more farmers. Farm disruptions and evictions continue."

Earlier this year, the new government set up a farm invasion task force that was led by Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara.

Although Mutambara submitted his report to Cabinet, it was never made public.

The southern African country used to be regional supplier of grain within the region, but since 2001 it has failed to feed itself, relying on imports and donor handouts. – ZimOnline