Africa-Press – Tanzania. Kagera Regional Commissioner (RC) Major Gen Charles Mbuge has tasked agricultural extension officers to educate farmers on the best practice to double coffee production.
The challenge comes at a time when Kagera has embarked on the implementation of a five-year plan that aimed to increase coffee production from 78,000 metric tonnes to 200,000mt by 2025.
The RC said to attain the regional goal the government will collaborate with other stakeholders including TACRI, Café Africa Tanzania, Cooperative Unions, Prisons Department and the private sector to increase coffee production.
“I appeal to the agricultural officers who benefitted through the programme to impart the knowledge to the farmers in order to increase the productivity of cash and food crops,” he said.
Major Gen Mbuge said on Wednesday that the five-year sustainable rejuvenation of Robusta coffee production project in Kagera region was being implemented with funding from Café Africa (T). The project aimed to increase coffee production and productivity and improve livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
The RC made the remarks while handing over certificates to 160 district and village agricultural officers and 40 youths who completed a six-month on-job training as Trainers of Trainers (TOTs) that was sponsored by Café Africa.
Equally, he challenged the Tanzania Coffee Board (TCB), to avail coffee hulling machines to enable the farmers to add value to the crop.
The Café Africa, Executive Secretary, Ms Dafrosa Sanga, said they are supporting the production of improved coffee varieties that are more resistant to diseases in the western part of the country.
She explained that at least 22,250 lead farmers would be reached while
445 extension officers would get training on modern coffee husbandry practices.
Also, at least 250 demonstration plots would be established to enable the farmers to get on farm-best practices.
Currently, seven coffee nurseries had already been established at Biirabo (Muleba), Kishoju (Karagwe) and Ibwera (Bukoba DC).
“In collaboration with researchers from TACRI Maruku we have already identified clonal Robusta varieties which are resistant to Coffee Wilt Disease (CWD),” she said.
The project expects to produce over 600,000 clonal Robusta varieties while over 400,000 improved coffee trees had already been distributed to the farmers for planting.
The TCB Director for Coffee Development, Dr Francis Kajiru, said the board was assisting stakeholders in the distribution of improved Robusta coffee seedlings, construction of green houses and expertise.
A well-managed Robusta coffee plant could produce up to two kilograms enabling a farmer to pocket at least 6,000/- per kilogramme compared to the current 1,200/- per kg.
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