Page 167 - AJWEP-22-4

Land suitability for coffee Abaya and Gelana

highly suitable (1200 – 1400 mm), 15.2% moderately respectively. In Gelana, 31 – 32°C is considered
suitable (1400 – 1900 mm), 55.2% marginally suitable highly suitable, 32 – 32.5°C moderately suitable,
(1050 – 1200 mm), 17.1% not suitable (860 – 1050 mm), 32.5 – 33°C marginally suitable, and > 33°C unsuitable
and 3.7% permanently not suitable (470 – 860 mm). for coffee production, with 5.8%, 21.6%, 46.9%, and
In Gelana, the classifications are 16% highly suitable, 25.4% of land falling in these categories, respectively
26.6% moderately suitable, 32.4% marginally suitable, (Table 3 and Figure A2).
20.5% not suitable, and 3.3% permanently not
suitable. These results are consistent with recent agro- 3.1.2. Elevation and slope
ecological research indicating that coffee grows best Elevation influences three important variables
with 1200 – 2000 mm of evenly distributed rainfall. for Arabica coffee: temperature, humidity, and
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While Abaya’s challenges necessitate focused support, rainfall. According to regional standards, the study
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Gelana’s higher suitability offers greater potential for categorizes elevations of 1200 – 1600 m as highly
adaptive investments. Permanently unsuitable areas in suitable, 1600 – 2000 m as moderately suitable, and
both districts highlight the need for alternative drought- 2000 – 2300 m as marginally acceptable. Heat and
tolerant livelihoods and climate-resilient planning. low humidity make areas below 1200 m unsuitable for
Optimal agricultural production depends on specific Arabica coffee production. In Abaya, 56.1% of the area
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rainfall and temperature conditions. In the study area, has < 5% slopes; in Gelana, it is 56.2%. Both districts
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rainfall was classified into highly suitable, moderately have smaller proportions of areas with > 10% slopes.
suitable, and marginally suitable categories for coffee According to Figure A3 and Table 4, elevations of 1200
production, emphasizing its agronomic importance. In – 1600 m are highly suitable for coffee, covering 62.7%
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Abaya, temperatures of 25 – 27°C are considered highly of Abaya and 47.4% of Gelana. Likewise, elevations of
suitable, 27 – 29°C moderately suitable, and > 29°C 1600 – 2000 m are moderately suitable, 2000 – 2300 m
marginally suitable for coffee production, with 0.1%, are marginally suitable, and < 1200 m are unsuitable for
20.8%, and 79.1% of land falling in these categories, coffee production.

Table 2. Rainfall suitability class of Abaya and Gelana Districts
Rainfall (mm) Abaya District Gelana District
Suitability class Area (ha) Area (%) Suitability class Area (ha) Area (%)
1200 – 1400 S1 162378 7.6039634 S1 257040 16.09813197
1400 – 1900 S2 326808 15.30401945 S2 425602 26.65498429
1050 – 1200 S3 1178856 55.20438655 S3 517099 32.38534058
860 – 1050 N1 366942 17.18344565 N1 327651 20.52042109
470 – 860 N2 100455 3.704184947 N2 69315 3.341122072
Total - 2135439 100 - 1596707 100
Notes: Highly suitable (S1), moderately suitable (S2), marginally suitable (S3), not suitable (N1), and permanently not suitable (N2).
Table 3. Temperature suitability class of Abaya and Gelana Districts
District Temperature (°C) Suitability class Area (ha) Area (%)
Abaya 25 – 27 S1 2851 0.133508848
27 – 29 S2 443,706 20.77821001
29 – 30 S3 1,688,882 79.08828115
Total - 2,135,439 100
Gelana 31 – 32 S1 93,973 5.885425441
32 – 32.5 S2 346,104 21.67611215
32.5 – 33 S3 750,139 46.98037899
33 – 34 N1 406,491 25.45808342
Total - 1,596,707 100
Notes: Highly suitable (S1), moderately suitable (S2), marginally suitable (S3), and not suitable (N1).

Volume 22 Issue 4 (2025) 159 doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025190143