Facts & Figures

Project NameSustainable production and processing coupled with income diversification in Mbeya rural and Mbozi District
Project DescriptionIncrease farm income through sustainable coffee farming and promotion of other promising crops
Number of Farmers2000
Project DurationMay 2006 - April 2010
International PartnersInternational Coffee Partners (ICP), MS Tanzania/Danish Association for Int. Cooperation, Austrian Development Aid (ADA)
Local PartnersMviwata - Tanzanian Farmer Network, City Coffee Ltd., Tanzania Coffee Board (TCB), Tanzania Coffee Research Institute (TaCRI), Private Agricultural Sector Support (PASS)
Tanzania, Mbozi Slideshow

Tanzania, Mbozi

Sustainable coffee from Mbeya Rural and Mbozi District

For more than 2,000 farmers and their families in Mbozi life is much better these days. Extremely low yields and a low return from coffee were improved through the doubling of yields and improvement of coffee quality. Where there used to be distrust and selfishness, the farmers now work together in democratic, transparent and self-managed farmer organizations. With their newly acquired marketing and organizational skills beneficiaries are now able to sell their coffee in larger volumes, independent of middlemen and their low payment. Support from the project also covered aspects such as record keeping, loan acquisition and management as well as the establishment of saving mechanisms for farmer groups and building up of their equity. . Farmers were supported in establishing an Apex Organization and optimizing the marketing of their sales via the national auction to international clients.

In addition, Loefbergs Lila made a donation to support the renovation of four primary schools. With the help of the project, the schools were repaired, painted and equipped with new desks. The schools were previously in very poor condition, with broken roofs, very few desks and overcrowded classrooms. Furthermore, various social conditions have improved through higher income for the beneficiaries and their families, including improved housing, better nutrition and more children attending school.