11th Conference and Exhibition of the African Fine Coffees Association: women and youth mobilized to share experience

They have been given an appointment at Roca Golf Hotel to discuss in advance opportunities and challenges faced in this sector. – By Diane Uwimana

Coming from 11 countries (Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Malawi, South Africa, Ethiopia, DRC and Zimbabwe), women and young people engaged in the coffee sector have met this Tuesday January 11th 2014, to talk about challenges they face and some opportunities that the sector presents.
“Women and young people are the first who take care of the coffee from its plantations, but they are the last to taste its benefits,” declares Ted Van de Put, the Director of Program of Sustainable Trade Initiative. For him, this workshop comes in good time to share experience and overcome some challenges.
As the theme of the workshop is “Coffee Farming as a family business”, Odette Kayitesi, the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, indicates that coffee plays a major vital role in the Burundian economy, providing 60 to 80% of foreign currencies and income to about 600,000 families.
“The main actress in this economy is woman because she plays a very big role in the socio-economic development of our respective countries,” says the Minister.
“In addition, continues the Minister, they constitute a very important workforce in the agricultural sector to increase agricultural production and their contribution is crucial in the families and communities’ welfare”.
However, Odette Kayitesi notes that socio-economic indicators and policies show that women don’t benefit as much as their contribution: they have little access to resources, income, education, health…
Concerning the participation in decision-making, “studies on the role of women in development indicate that long-term growth prospects largely depend on equitable access of women and men to economic and financial resources.”
Note that this important conference will be held under the theme: “Special meet on the shores of the Great Lakes to inspire the sustainable resurgence of the African Coffee Industry” from 13th to 15th February 2014 at the Club du Lac Tanganyika Hotel, Bujumbura-Burundi.