KILIMANJARO: IN an effort to expand the domestic coffee roasting industry and enhance the added value of Tanzania’s coffee production, the Tanzania Coffee Board (TCB) recently held the inaugural Local Coffee Roasters’ Forum in Moshi, Kilimanjaro region.
The event brought together stakeholders from the coffee industry, aiming to increase the roasting of Tanzanian coffee domestically to elevate the sector’s value and stimulate economic growth.
In his opening remarks, TCB Acting Director General Kajiru Kisenge underscored the importance of the forum in promoting local coffee roasting, which currently accounts for only 7 per cent of Tanzania’s coffee production.
Of the over 80,000 tonnes of coffee produced in Tanzania, the vast majority is exported as green coffee, undergoing no value addition within the country.
“Our target is to raise the roasted coffee volume from 7 per cent to 15 per cent by 2025. This will not only increase the coffee’s value but also boost local consumption and the export of roasted coffee,” Kisenge stated.
He expressed optimism that discussions at the forum would help devise strategies to achieve this ambitious goal, which could significantly benefit farmers, exporters and the Tanzanian economy.
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Kisenge noted that increasing the proportion of roasted coffee has several advantages, including heightened local and international demand for Tanzanian coffee products.
As roasted coffee commands a much higher market value than unroasted green coffee, expanding roasting capabilities could yield greater earnings for both farmers and the nation.
He added that this increase would likely enhance foreign exchange earnings and contribute to national GDP.
Director of Kili Kaffe Coffee Company, Joel Mtunga, representing the coffee roasters in attendance, commended the forum as a significant step forward.
He noted that the event sparked discussions on establishing a roasters’ association to promote coffee roasting and industry growth.
Such an association, he said, would facilitate collaboration between roasters and government agencies, creating opportunities for sector-wide improvements in production, marketing and exports.
“With a roasters’ association, we can better advocate for our needs, collaborate with agricultural experts and help ensure the sector’s success,” Mtunga asserted.
The forum also provided a platform for participants to explore international market opportunities and gain insights into new technologies in coffee roasting and processing.
Through these discussions, TCB and stakeholders aim to develop strategies that will encourage more local investment in coffee roasting and enable Tanzanian coffee to capture a larger share of the international market for value-added coffee products.
