Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Corus International in a landmark initiative expected to mobilise 30 million US dollars (about 81bn/-) to enhance cocoa and coffee production and expand their reach in international markets.
The agreement was signed over the weekend in Dodoma by Corus International’s Chief Operating Officer, Mr Mahmoud Bah and representatives from the Tanzania Coffee Board (TCB) and the Cereals and Other Produce Regulatory Authority (COPRA), with officials from the Ministry of Agriculture in attendance.
Under this ambitious plan, Tanzania aims to increase annual coffee production from 80,000 metric tonnes to 300,000 metric tonnes and cocoa output from 14,490 metric tonnes to 80,000 metric tonnes by 2030.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Mr David Silinde, said the agreement is designed to boost farmers’ productivity, open up new markets and ensure Tanzanian crops meet global quality standards.
“The government recognises cocoa and coffee as vital foreign exchange earners. With support from Corus International, we expect significant progress in promoting these crops globally and securing improved market access,” Mr Silinde said.
He added that the partnership will also drive the creation of employment opportunities, particularly for youth and women and unlock financing to develop the two high-value crops.
“A key strategy under this MoU is to facilitate access to financing that will accelerate cocoa and coffee farming, especially in key production zones,” he said.
COPRA Director General, Ms Irene Mlola noted that the agreement will also promote sustainable agricultural practices, improve productivity and address climate change challenges.
She said that Tanzania currently has about 100,000 cocoa farmers, primarily in Mbeya, Morogoro and Tanga regions with significant potential for expansion.
“In recent years, we’ve made considerable progress in elevating cocoa farming and farmers are benefiting from rising global prices,” Ms Mlola said.
She added that last year alone, Tanzania earned 89 million US dollars (about 239bn/-) from cocoa exports, a result of the government’s focused investment in agriculture.
Despite these gains, Ms Mlola pointed out that there is still untapped potential to grow the cocoa industry further through expanded cultivation and modern farming techniques.
Echoing similar sentiments, TCB Director General, Mr Primus Kimaryo, said the MoU will also help improve coffee quality, increase market access, raise farmers’ incomes and create a more supportive business environment across the agricultural value chain.
This partnership is expected to strengthen Tanzania’s position in the global cocoa and coffee markets while contributing to broad-based economic growth through the agricultural sector.
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