Kyerwa to distribute 5 million coffee seedlings to raise output

KAGERA: KYERWA District Council in Kagera Region has announced plans to distribute more than five million improved coffee seedlings to farmers during the 2025/2026 farming season as part of efforts to boost coffee production in the area.

Kyerwa District Trade Development Officer, Mr Bishanga Tizetwa said yesterday that the seedling distribution exercise has already reached 85 per cent completion, covering Kaisho, Murongo, Nkwenda and Mabira divisions.

“Kyerwa Council plans to distribute over five million improved coffee seedlings to farmers during the 2025/2026 season as part of our strategy to increase production. The seedlings will be distributed free of charge. We thank President Samia Suluhu Hassan for her continued efforts to improve the livelihoods of farmers across the country,” he said.

Mr Tizetwa commended President Samia’s leadership, noting that her administration has made great strides in improving citizens’ welfare through investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure and agriculture.

“During her tenure, President Samia has made remarkable progress in uplifting the lives of Tanzanians. These efforts have contributed to making Tanzania one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa,” he added.

He said Kyerwa is among the country’s leading producers of high-quality Robusta coffee, noting that the farm-gate price for coffee has significantly increased from 1,200/- per kilogramme to 5,000/-.

ALSO READ; Geita launch crackdown against unregistered healers

“These positive developments in the coffee sector must be supported by all stakeholders,” he emphasised.

Mr Tizetwa said the agricultural sector provides vast opportunities for employment and income generation, urging youth to invest in agriculture for their own economic empowerment.

He explained that under a new three-year strategic plan (2024–2027), more than 10,000 hectares of land in Kagera Region will be planted with improved coffee varieties to boost production and ensure sustainable growth.

“The government, under the leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, has put in place favourable strategies to improve the agricultural sector, including the provision of essential inputs to farmers,” he said.

According to Mr Tizetwa, Tanzania’s coffee industry has recorded notable progress over the past three years. Farmers’ earnings and production levels have continued to improve, driven by competitive global prices, easier access to agricultural inputs through credit facilities, and the country’s strong cooperative framework.

Data shows that during the 2020/2021 crop season, Kagera Region produced 78,309 tonnes of coffee. Production then fell to 45,534 tonnes in 2021/2022 but recovered to 73,745 tonnes in 2022/2023.

In 2023/2024, about 53,492 tonnes were produced, while the most recent season saw 54,203 tonnes of coffee worth 256.4bn/- collected.

Mr Tizetwa attributed the fluctuations in output to poor farm management and farmers’ continued reliance on old coffee trees, which need to be replaced with improved varieties from the Tanzania Coffee Research Institute (TACRI) at Maruku Station, near Bukoba Municipality.

He further praised President Samia for her deliberate efforts to enhance farmers’ livelihoods by improving coffee prices.

“Thanks to the President’s commitment, farmers in Kagera are now earning up to 5,000/- per kilogram of coffee, compared to just 1,000/- a few years ago,” he noted.

Kagera Region now aims to increase coffee production from 54,203 tonnes in the 2024/2025 season to 74,000 tonnes in the next season.

The initiative, implemented under the region’s strategic plan, involves expanding coffee farms by 10,000 hectares with improved seedlings, which is expected to raise regional income by about 96bn/- annually.