Coffee Board targets over 300,000 tonnes of coffee
DODOMA: THE Tanzania Coffee Board (TCB) is implementing a strategic plan which will see the country producing over 300,000 tonnes of coffee come 2025.
The plan is in line with the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) manifesto 2020-2025, which directs the board to ensure that the country produces at least 300,000 tonnes of coffee, according to the TCB chairperson, Professor Aurelia Kamuzora.
“In the previous years we were producing 68,000 tonnes, but currently the figure has hiked to 82,000 tonnes, therefore, we are quite sure that the target will be met,” she insisted.
According to her, TCB was implementing other various strategies that are aimed at seeing the sector contributing more in the country’s economy.
Currently, the coffee sector is pumping into the Country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) US Dollars 200 million (over 500bn), according to her, the contribution of the crop to the state coffers tops other sectors under the ministry of agriculture, she noted when speaking on the sidelines of the 13th Meeting of coffee stakeholders held in Dodoma recently.
The meeting drew coffee farmers and all stakeholders involved in the coffee business value chain, where several presentations on how best the country can improve local and international coffee business were made.
“We are also making sure that coffee growers in the country are happy, especially on the competitive market by putting up the best transparent price,” added Prof Kamuzora.
According to her, the government wanted to see all farmers producing coffee in the country working with the highest morale after selling their products and getting good income.
At the event, Cafe Africa Tanzania Chief Executive, Mr Samora Mnyaonga, said his organisation was working to sensitise coffee farmers in the Kagera region so that they can intensify value addition in their products.
He said that his association in collaboration with the Netherlands based company, JDE—a leading tea and coffee company, had managed to create awareness amongst coffee growers in the lake zone region.
