By Temwa Tembo

The Coffee Association of Malawi (CAMAL) says it is a discouraging season for coffee farmers in Malawi, with domestic coffee prices dropping by 24 percent this year.

CAMAL Secretary General Kondwani Nanchukwa said primary-processed coffee is currently trading at around K16,000 per kilogramme, down from approximately K21,000 per kilogramme last year.

Nanchukwa said the development is not good news for farmers, although it provides some relief to off-takers and processors who purchase and process the coffee.

Meanwhile, cooperatives such as Phoka Coffee Growers say they remain determined to achieve their target of producing 200 metric tonnes of coffee this year, despite buyers offering as little as K15,000 per kilogramme.

The cooperative had expected prices to reach at least K25,000 per kilogramme, following last year’s price of K21,000.

Coffee production in Malawi remains low, with the country currently producing about 1,000 metric tonnes annually, down from as much as 7,000 metric tonnes in previous years.