KAGERA: THE Tanzania Coffee Board (TCB) has commended President Samia Suluhu Hassan for her efforts in securing favourable prices for coffee farmers.
TCB Chairperson, Professor Aurelia Kamuzora noted that competitive prices achieved through auctions have significantly relieved farmers, compared to the past when a kilogramme of coffee sold for as little as 1,000/-.
“We are grateful to President Samia for implementing people centred projects. The government’s timely intervention has en- abled farmers to obtain attractive prices through coffee auctions,” said Prof Kamuzora.
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She urged farmers to maintain high coffee quality to continue benefitting from improved prices and warned against selling cof- fee to middlemen through the informal system known as “Butula.” During an auction on August 9 this year, a kilogramme of Robusta clean certified coffee fetched 11,902/-, while Robusta cherry sold for between 5,000/- and 5,200/- per kilogramme.
This represents a significant improvement from previous years when a kilogramme of Robusta cherry sold for between 1,000/- and 1,500/-.
Prof Kamuzora further encouraged farmers to consider organic coffee, which commands higher prices in international markets
