Proceedings of the South & East African combined agricultural, cotton, entomological and mycological conference held at Nairobi, August, 1926

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Monograph

Identifikator:: 1738588467

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-115043

Document type:: Monograph

Title:: Proceedings of the South & East African combined agricultural, cotton, entomological and mycological conference held at Nairobi, August, 1926

Place of publication:: Nairobi

Publisher:: East African Standard

Year of publication:: 1926

Scope:: VI, 337 Seiten; Ill.

Digitisation:: 2020

Collection:: Economics Books

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Document type:: Monograph

Structure type:: Chapter

Title:: Part II. Agriculture

Collection:: Economics Books

PART 11. As is usual in most of the coffee species, caffein is present. The amount appears to be, on an average, somewhat larger (even exceeding 2.0%) than in the South American coffee species. In no instance, however, did the amount exceed the maximum limits observed in coffee in general. Due to its rapid growth, early and prolific yields, resistance to coffee blight, and many other desirable qualities, Coffee robusta has established ‘‘ its own.”” In the writer's judgment, robusta coffee deserves consideration and recognition. This is a statement of great interest because it comes from America, where it would not be surprising to find a strong prejudice against robusta, arising from their large controlling interests in Santos coffee. Further, when we view this statement in conjunction with the export figures from Java we see that Robusta has made a bold entry into the coffee markets of the world. I myself have had the opportunity of meeting Brokers and Produce Merchants in London and also Mincing Lane tasters and have been assured that there is a good market in London for good robusta. We have had enquiries about Robusta from Egypt, Palestine, Poland, Germany, and other parts of the continent and New Zealand. Indeed the prospects are becoming so well recognised that we have had requests for seed of our Uganda types from various countries. Of course, the final test of a coffee is its liquoring qualities. = We have seen that Robusta is not lacking in this respect. By selection it has been possible to improve on the size and boldness of the bean and a great deal more can be done. I hope I shall not weary you if 1 quote anent this matter of market prospects a rather striking statement from the Planters’ Chronicle of September, 1925, entitled ‘* The Outlook for Coffee in the East.” It is as follows: — The Stephanoderes pest whose ravages on Brazilian Coffee were described on page 509 of our issue of July 25, has an economic significance which augurs well for the future of the coffee growing industry in the countries outside Brazil. The outlay required to keep this scourge within bounds is involving no less than an increase of five American cents per pound on production costs. In other words the margin of production costs has swung round in favour of non-Brazilian Coffee growers; who presumably are now benefitting from the enhancement of the world price of coffee by which the producers of Brazil are enabled to combat Stephanoderes. This procedure of passing extra production costs of an article on to the consumer and thus avoiding diminution of profits is of course only practicable for producers who, like the Brazilians, control a predominant proportion of the world supply. Again, even in such circumstances, it has its obvious limitations; for any advance towards prohibitive prices—unless, of course, the current rate of consumption by the consumers of the commodity concerred is already at an absolute minimum-—is hound to cause af. ling off in demand, which may quite well be 59

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