Industry said this year’s dry weather and low fertiliser application by smallholders in Q1 caused production to drop 15% to 21.46 million kilos compared with 25.24 million kilos in the same period the year before.

The lowest crop in April during the past decade was 20.82 million kilos recorded in COVID-hit 2020, whilst the highest 32.94 million kilos in 2017.

Forbes & Walker Research said all elevations have shown a decrease in comparison with the corresponding month of 2023