Why international coffee day matters to Tanzania

KILIMANJARO: EVERY year on October 1st, Tanzania joins the rest of the world in celebrating International Coffee Day, a day dedicated to recognising the economic, social and cultural importance of coffee.

According to the Director General of the Tanzania Coffee Board (TCB), Mr Primus Kimaryo, this day is crucial in reflecting on how deeply coffee is woven into the fabric of Tanzanian life.

“Coffee is a national pride,” he said. “Our rich soils, favorable climate and mountainous regions like Kilimanjaro, Mbeya, Kagera and Ruvuma enable us to produce high-quality coffee with a unique aroma and flavour, recognised globally.”

Mr Kimaryo said that over one million families across Tanzania depend on coffee for their livelihood. The crop generates both direct and indirect employment, supports education and funds social services, particularly in rural areas.

“Every cup of coffee represents a farmer’s livelihood,” he stressed. The government, through the TCB, continues to support farmers by offering subsidised agricultural inputs and distributing free seedlings of improved Arabica and Robusta coffee varieties.

Mr Kimaryo noted that these initiatives are part of a broader push to create an enabling environment for both smallholder farmers and large-scale investors.

He further said that cooperative reforms currently underway aim to empower farmers, especially in the marketing and distribution of their produce.

Through the ambitious “Road to Five Million Coffee Bags” strategy, the country plans to significantly increase both the quality and quantity of coffee production.

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In addressing climate change, Mr Kimaryo urged farmers to adopt the “Ten Commandments of Coffee Farming”, invest in research and embrace new technologies to ensure resilience and sustainability.

“We must respect our coffee, not just by growing it, but by drinking and promoting it,” he said. “Every cup we drink supports a farmer.”

The TCB is also encouraging youth participation in the coffee value chain, from farming to innovation, such as mobile coffee shops and other modern business ventures that add value to the local coffee industry.

As the world marks International Coffee Day, Mr Kimaryo called on all Tanzanians to celebrate by drinking locally grown coffee and sharing its story with the world.

“Let us give our coffee the recognition it deserves, both at home and globally,” he concluded.