Coffee shrugs off global crisis as auction year ends

This is a marked improvement from last year’s total production which stood at 41,800 metric tonnes. The depressed production last year was caused by bad weather patterns which affected flowering.  

Experts say that this year’s production was not affected by the extended drought that hit the country earlier in the year.

“The dry conditions came in November and December when coffee was already mature and expanding,” said Mr James Minae, head of research liaison at the Coffee Research Foundation.

The drought also provided good conditions for flowering for the next crop which may lead to increased production in the 2009/2010 year, said Mr Minae.