Coffee industry receives cash boost

By Happy Lazaro

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has plans to spend about Shs. 4 billion to improve the ailing coffee industry in the country.

The Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Charles Keenja revealed this when he was inaugurating the recently appointed Board of Directors of the Tanzania Coffee Board (TCB) in Moshi.

The Minister said that the budgeted money would be used to revamp the coffee industry in the areas where standards have declined due to negligence.

During 2002/2003, high quality coffee was sold at US dollars 2.63 per kilogramme while the low standard produce was sold at US dollars 0.50.

The Tanzania Coffee Research Institute (TACRI), Lyamungo has produced a variety of coffee which can resist coffee berry disease (CBD) and leaf rust, a move that can ensure improved quality of the crop.

The Minister said that between 2003 and 2004 his ministry would establish a tissue culture laboratory which would facilitate the production of disease resistant coffee seedlings. Emphasis would also be put in reviving coffee-processing factories.

"The biggest extension activity will be the production of Hard Bean (HB) coffee seedlings and their dissemination to farmers, at a nominal or commercial price," he said.

The minister underscored the importance of co-operative societies saying that they have an important role in the coffee industry since they are administering and controlling production, processing and marketing of the crop. He pledged that his Ministry would collaborate with TCB in supporting coffee extension services for all coffee growing areas.

The inauguration ceremony of the TCB Board of Directors was also attended by the Chairman of the Board, Dr. Hussein Mongi, board members and the Director General of TCB, Mr. Leslie Omari. 

Last modified: August 22, 2003.
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