An agriculturalist and researcher say coffee can bring in cash for both economic purposes as well as generating revenue in the carbon space of Climate Change.
Mawe Gonapa, a Ph.D. student in a short presentation told local government authorities coffee packs carbon in its leaves, stems, and even beneath the earth using its roots, thus offering benefits as a cash crop.
“Coffee has the potential to mitigate climate change through carbon sequestration, and if we come together and make our position clear on how to involve coffee in the carbon trade, create relevant guidelines to get it into the carbon trade, and have the carbon credit certified,” Mr. Gonapa said.
The Ministry of Environment Conservation and Climate Change initiated the meeting with Mr. Gonapa and is pleased with the information and discussions knowing it may be a prospect for the future.
“We have been talking about it (Climate change), we have been going to conferences, what’s needed from us now is action, coffee carbon trade may be our answer,” First Secretary to the Minister for Environment Conservation and Climate Change Motsy David said.
The officers from Both authorities under the Environment and Conservation and Climate Change Ministry – Climate Change Development Authority (CCDA) and Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA) who were present, noted successive tree planting campaigns were unstructured and failed to provide an accurate number of trees that were already planted.
Mr. Gonapa added, “There is a huge potential (for coffee) to improve livelihoods as farmers will get additional income, improve conservation and bio-diversity when coffee is grown with other trees”.
Other tree species have been used in the tree planting exercise over the years, this is the first time the government agencies are eyeing coffee as an alternative.
First Secretary to the Environment Conservation and Climate Change Minister, Motsy David said, “The Minister responsible upon his return from the UN-sanctioned Conference of Parties (COP) 27 will initiate dialogue with Minister Coffee and other related ministers to progress this”.
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