MILAN –The recently elected chairman of the Tanzania Coffee Board Adolph Kumbulu has called on coffee farmers to replace the old coffee trees with a new high- yield variety recommended by the Tanzania Coffee Research Institute (Tacri) that can produce up to two kilograms of coffee beans per plant annually.

The Coffee Board has called on commercial nursery dealers to make mass production of the new variety seedlings to meet farmers' demands. Kumbul is meeting all the industry stakeholders to discuss problems and challenges facing the sector. In addition to the renewal of plantations, the Coffee Board is calling on the introduction of modern farming methods to increase volumes and produce better grade coffee.

Producers are struggling with higher inputs costs that have led to a drastic drop in outputs in the northern zone. One of the finer varieties is the Tanzania Peaberry Coffee which brings a higher price to the farmer due to the demand.