In what could be seen as the tables being turned on Zimbabwe, it had been announced that a mere 300 tons had been produced by Zimbabwean coffee producers in 2010, a dramatic reduction compared to the 15,000 tons produced in 1990.

The European Union (EU) head of Delegation ambassador Xavier Marchal had noted in an address to coffee stakeholders at a conference, that “(It is) a sheer embarrassment, particularly for thousands of communal farmers who want to improve their livelihoods and income and become part of the prestigious world fraternity of growers.” 

Shortly thereafter, he resigned from his post as EU Head of mission to Zimbabwe.

He went on to inform his audience that the key reasons behind Zimbabwe’s failing coffee crop was because the land reform launched in 2002 saw maize replacing precious coffee trees on commercial farms. Because of this decline, the EC was forced to suspend its assistance in 2006. 

“But we remained engaged with the aim of bringing back the coffee sector of Zimbabwe where it should be,” Marchal said.

Zimbabwe has facilities that include Zimbabwe Coffee Mill Limited, the Grain Marketing Board and at least ten Export Processing Zones that could handle a milling capacity of 50,000 tons of green coffee annually.