Home East Africa Cocoa Cultivation in Tanzania Picks Up

Cocoa Cultivation in Tanzania Picks Up

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Kyela in the Mbeya region contributes a staggering 80 percent of Tanzania’s cocoa harvest. Yet, most farmers in this fertile land work in small plots organically, selling directly from their farms. This scenario is gradually changing

Tanzanian farmers are increasingly resorting to cocoa cultivation, riding on the back of rising prices and government support. They are adopting modern farming methods to up the production and steer clear of possible pest attacks, which will have a bearing on the quality of the cocoa seeds.

Kyela in the Mbeya region contributes a staggering 80 percent of Tanzania’s cocoa harvest. Yet, most farmers in this fertile land work in small plots organically, selling directly from their farms. This scenario is gradually changing.

Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade of Tanzania, Exaud Kigahe, recently visited Kyela, underscoring the government’s dedication to improving the agricultural business environment. With cocoa prices enjoying a healthy jump from Sh9,800 to Sh10,000 per kilo, the call for commercialization echoes even louder. Kigahe envisioned a future where Kyela harvests more than just crops as he instructed SIDO and TIRDO to delve into research on creating value-added products like cocoa juice and modern alcoholic beverages. The government has introduced the Warehouse Receipt System, to promote cocoa cultivation in the country. This system promises guaranteed markets and fair prices by incentivizing storage in certified warehouses.

Read Also:

https://trendsnafrica.com/tanzanian-president-dissolves-tanesco-as-power-rationing-persists-in-the-country/

https://trendsnafrica.com/tanzanias-goods-and-services-exports-up-by-16/

Ivory Coast and Ghana are the major producers of cocoa. Together, they account for more than 50% of the world’s cocoa production.