Coffee Hub Illu Ababor Targets Bigger Share in Global Market

Aug 17 , 2025

Illu Ababor Zone supplied more than 51,000 tons of coffee to the central market in the 2024/25 fiscal year, Deputy Administrator Mohammed Teha reported. The effort is part of the "Neqemte Initiative," designed to promote production, productivity, and quality in top foreign exchange earner. The zone spans over 700,000 hectares, including 300,000 hectares of newly planted and rehabilitated coffee and 400,000 hectares of wild varieties, cementing its role as a major coffee hub. Officials highlight coffee’s dual economic and social importance, with more than 65 percent of residents depending directly or indirectly on the crop. Last year, the Ethiopian Coffee & Tea Authority recorded export earnings of 2.65 billion dollars, the highest in 47 years. Mohammed said the zone will intensify efforts in the coming fiscal year to secure higher returns for farmers and strengthen the country's market position.