SPC BLOG-DAR
The two-day conference, held from February 21-22, 2025, brings together government leaders, coffee sector experts, private sector representatives, and policymakers to discuss strategies for advancing Africa’s coffee industry. The aim is to enhance the value of coffee products, engage young people in the sector, and strengthen regional cooperation.
Speaking at the ministerial-level opening of the conference, Minister of Agriculture Hon. Hussein Bashe urged fellow leaders and stakeholders to ensure that youth are at the center of Africa’s coffee sector. He emphasized that industry players should introduce youth-friendly approaches to coffee farming, support fair trade principles, and prioritize the well-being of farmers to ensure a thriving African coffee sector that attracts future generations.
"Transforming this sector cannot be achieved in isolation. Collaboration between governments, the private sector, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and coffee associations is crucial in strengthening Africa’s coffee value chain. Through collective efforts, we can enhance Africa’s position in the global coffee market and bring innovation at every stage of the value chain, from production to processing and marketing," Hon. Bashe emphasized.
He stated that Tanzania is committed to transforming its coffee industry. To achieve this, the country has strengthened coffee research institutions to address coffee diseases, pests, and climate change impacts; provided farmers with input subsidies, such as coffee seedlings and fertilizers; launched the "Build Better Tomorrow" (BBT) program to empower youth in agribusiness by adding value to coffee and granting them free land for coffee farming; aimed to increase domestic coffee consumption from 7% to 15% by 2030; and invested in the TANICA factory while strengthening cooperative unions to bring long-term changes to the sector.
Hon. Bashe added that implementing these five key areas aligns with Tanzania’s broader vision to serve as a model for coffee sector transformation in Africa. He urged participating countries to ensure a shared commitment to revitalizing Africa’s coffee industry while celebrating the hard work of coffee farmers, processors, baristas, and all contributors who make African coffee a symbol of excellence worldwide.
"Let us protect our heritage! Let’s send a strong message to the world’s major coffee traders that we are not asking for aid to grow our coffee sector—we demand fairness and equity in coffee trade," Hon. Bashe emphasized.
He urged African nations to stand together and negotiate collectively with major coffee-consuming countries instead of engaging in separate, individual discussions.
The conference provides a vital platform for exchanging ideas and discussing the best ways to shape the future of the coffee sector. By adding value to coffee, increasing domestic consumption, and promoting sustainable quality, the sector will not only thrive but also attract investments and create employment opportunities for young people, who make up 30% of Africa’s population.
Hon. Bashe stressed that it is time for African nations, through the African Union (AU), to support farmers and the private sector by negotiating as a unified bloc with the European Union rather than conducting separate discussions.
This conference is part of the implementation of a resolution urging the heads of state from 25 African coffee-producing countries to support the inclusion of coffee as a strategic commodity under the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and to recognize the Inter-African Coffee Organization (IACO) as an AU-designated institution.
The third G25 Africa Coffee Summit aims to build on the Nairobi and Kampala declarations, ensuring that the coffee sector serves as a catalyst for youth employment and Africa’s economic development. The conference is being held under the theme: "Unlocking Youth Employment Opportunities Through the Revitalization of Africa’s Coffee Sector."
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