Africa-Press – Tanzania. The government has vowed to increase coffee production in the country.
Agriculture Minister Adolf Mkenda disclosed here that the government was keen to bolster the sector which has a significant contribution to the country’s economy.
“Just to echo President Samia’s address in April this year, we will increase coffee production in the country and work round the clock to ensure the promise is fulfilled,” assured Prof Mkenda when speaking at the second Kahawa Festival 2021 at the weekend.
The Minister further revealed that his docket has, in collaboration with the Tanzania Coffee Board (TCB), rolled out strategies that will ensure farmers are encouraged to cultivate more so that the national production target is met.
According to Prof Mkenda, the number of main coffee growing regions has increased to 17 from the initial nine, an indication that the sector would soar to greater heights.
“We are glad that there is more awareness on coffee growing around the country and the government will ensure that sector continues to contribute to the country’s economy,” he expounded.
He equally challenged financial institutions to support the Government and other coffee stakeholders by setting up programs that would enable coffee farmers produce the crop in large quantities.
In his rejoinder, TCB Acting Director General Primus Kimaryo said the board had started increasing the availability of coffee seedlings to farmers to make bumper harvest.
On his part, the Festival Committee chairperson Dennis Mahulu thanked the government for its endless support to coffee stakeholders, noting that such support would motivate farmers to put more efforts on their yields.
Coffee production in Tanzania makes significant contribution to the economy as it is Tanzania’s largest export crop.
Tanzania coffee production average is between 30,000-40,000 metric tons annually.
The festival which was part of the World Coffee Day occasion drew various coffee stakeholders from within and outside the country.
