Coffee, the world’s Popular hot beverage is once more about to make Tanzania one of its major producers, but it seems the country can only produce 20 million seedlings per year to supplement its growth.
Farmers from all over the mainland Tanzania, according to reports, need between 50 million and 60 million seedlings, in order to grow their coffee trees and reach their full potential in production.
The Tanzania Coffee Research Institute’s Executive Director, Dr Deusdedit Kilambo explains that while the demand for coffee plantlets is between 50 and 60 million, the country’s capability so far is to produce just 20 million seedlings.
“We are now working around the clock to churn out enough sprouts in order to satisfy the demand,” Dr Kilambo maintains.
The Tanzania Coffee Research Institute (TaCRI) intends to distribute coffee seedlings to all mainland regions where coffee is grown.
Operating from Moshi Municipality in Kilimanjaro Region, the Coffee research institute has so far studied and produced nearly 20 varieties of Arabica coffee.
In addition, TaCRI has also studied four other varieties for the Robusta Coffee.
The new seedlings are said to be of high yield capabilities plus being resistant to diseases and hostile weather conditions.
“These newly improved coffee varieties are resistant to common coffee ailments such as Coffee Berry Disease (CBD) and Coffee Leaf Rust (CLR) for Arabica and Coffee Wilt Disease (CWD) for Robusta,” Dr Kilambo stated.
The new coffee varieties, according to experts, are also capable of yielding at least six tons of raw coffee beans per hectare
Three coffee varieties are still awaiting certification from the Tanzania Official Seeds Certification (TOSCI), while nine others have already undergone the test of time and weather.
The Lake Zone region of Kagera, the Northern Circuit of Arusha and Kilimanjaro as well as the Southern Highlands, mostly Mbeya Region, are Tanzania’s coffee growing areas.
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