Pre-Extension Demonstration and Evaluation of BAERC Model Engine Driven Coffee Dehuller in East Wollega Zone, Ethiopia

Coffee agriculture is critical to the Ethiopian economy, with around a quarter of the people relying on it directly or indirectly for survival. Yet there are still problems associated with the way coffee is currently processed that underscore the need for mechanized alternative capable of improving efficiency, preserve coffee quality and boost smallholder income. Cognizant of this engine operated coffee dehuller was demonstrated with the specific objectives of enhancing farmers’ awareness of coffee dehuller, evaluating its performance, and assessing participant stakeholders’ feedback. The participants were determined through purposive sampling out of the households residing in Gammachis and Falamo-Yubdo kebeles. Data were gathered focus group discussions, measurement and observation and were analyzed adopting simple deceptive statistics. The result revealed that total cost of operation for coffee dehulling by BAERC coffee dehuller were found 77% cheaper than the traditional method of dehulling done by woody pestle and mortar, The saving in time also 89.58 in percent. This result could typically support the conclusion that adoption and use of demonstrated dehuller. Therefore, the machine was recommended to scaling up and diffusion for greater impacts.