Africa-Press – Tanzania. TANZANIA Coffee Research Institute (TACRI), has identified three major diseases affecting robusta coffee, advising the farmers to plant the clonal varieties which are resistant to the diseases.
The Zonal Coffee Manager at TACRI Maruku, Dr Nyabisi Ng’homa identified the diseases as Coffee Wilt Disease (CWD), Leaf Rust and CoffeeBlack Borer (CBB).
“Coffee Wilt Disease (CWD) has been reported in most of the coffee-producing districts while the Coffee Black Borer (CBB), had so far been reported in Misenyi and Kyerwa districts. Researchers at TACRI Maruku were multiplying best robusta clonal varieties which are resistant to the diseases and farmers are advised to plant the varieties in their farms for increased productivity,” he said.
Dr Ng’homa also appealed to the farmers to adhere to best crop husbandry practices by uprooting and destroy coffee trees, through burning the affected coffee trees, farm cleanliness, mulching and timely use of inputs and fertilisers.
He explained that coffee production increased from 12,500 metric tonnes between 1991-2000 to 43,680 metric tonnes during the 2020-2021 seasons.
The increase of coffee production in the region has a positive impact on farmers’ livelihoods and the national economy. He attributed the achievement to the application of good agricultural practices, management of Coffee Wilt Diseases (CWD), Leaf Rust (LR) and planting of improved clonal coffee varieties.
In the next ten years, TACRI has planned to increase coffee production from the current production of 43,680 metric tonnes to an average of 130,260 metric tonnes annually through rejuvenation of old coffee trees and planting improved coffee varieties.
During the 2004-2021 period, TACRI Maruku continued to disseminate and promote appropriate technologies to coffee stakeholders with aim of improving coffee production, productivity and coffee quality.
Meanwhile, a group comprising 28 lead farmers, who attended a two-day field training session held at TACRI Maruku, have appealed for government intervention to enable them to adopt agro-processing at the farm level. Christopher Kiiza Rwamutukula (57), from Missenyi District’s Kassambya village, explained that through agroprocessing the farmers would increase coffee productivity.
“Coffee production is lucrative. However, the coffee farmers faced various challenges which needed government’s intervention for increased productivity,” he said.
Coffee is grown in Bukoba, Muleba, Karagwe, Kyerwa, Ngara and Missenyi Districts in the western areas along with Lake Victoria. However, for quite a long time the average production stood at 0.32 kg per tree due to lack of proper management while most of the coffee trees are over 60 years old.
Key challenges experienced by smallholder farmers include poor extension services, high costs of inputs, adulterated inputs, low coffee price, and minimum level of engagement of youth in coffee production. Other challenges are poor institutional support, poor marketing systems and effects of climate changes.
All these challenges have contributed to low coffee productivity, poor coffee quality, low farm gate prices and coffee racketeering.
