KILIMANJARO (Tanzania), Aug 12 (NNN-DAILYNEWS) — The Tanzania Coffee Research Institute (TaCRI) is accelerating efforts to increase coffee production through the development of new disease-resistant coffee varieties.
The institute has expanded its collection from 16 to 23 varieties in just two years.
TaCRI Biotechnologist Fatuma Jumapili announced the development during the recent Northern Zone Nanenane agricultural exhibition in Arusha.
“We (TaCRI) aims to enhance coffee quality and reduce production costs by developing and disseminating appropriate technologies,” Jumapili said.
She highlighted that these new varieties can significantly boost yields, with farmers potentially producing up to 5,000 kilogrammes per acre compared to previous averages of 2,500 to 3,000 kilogrammes.
The strong demand for the new seedlings has exceeded the institute’s capacity, prompting collaborations with the Tanzania Coffee Board and local governments to increase production.
Twisege Mwakabuta, Research Officer at TaCRI’s Coffee Crop Improvement Department, emphasized the importance of the institute’s new laboratories in developing high-quality seedlings.
“TaCRI has established modern laboratories for soil analysis, pathology, biotechnology, and coffee cupping. These facilities are crucial for developing coffee varieties that boost farmer productivity,” said Mwakabuta.
The 23 hybrid coffee varieties, including 19 Arabica and four Robusta, offer improved disease resistance and have revitalized farmer interest in coffee cultivation. — NNN-DAILYNEWS
