SPC BLOG-DAR
President Samia Calls for Youth Empowerment in Africa’s Coffee Production
President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, has emphasized the need to empower African youth in coffee production to achieve the sector’s growth targets.
She made these remarks while visiting exhibition booths at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC) in Dar es Salaam and during her closing speech at a summit of 25 coffee-producing countries in Africa.
Enhancing Coffee Value Addition
President Samia stressed the importance of value addition in the coffee industry, noting that most African coffee is currently exported in raw form, allowing buyers to reap double the profits compared to farmers who do the hard work of cultivation.
She highlighted that Tanzania is committed to training African youth in agriculture through its Building a Better Tomorrow (BBT) program, which focuses on agriculture, livestock, and fisheries to equip young people with self-employment skills.
Strengthening Africa’s Coffee Market
Regarding the coffee market, President Samia underscored the need for proper implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) to stop the exploitation of African coffee farmers.
"Currently, coffee is sold as a raw product at low prices, only to be processed, packaged, and resold in Africa at much higher prices. Tanzania has already started packaging coffee, but Africa must unite to address this issue," she stated.
Vision 2035: 50% of African Coffee to be Processed Locally
President Samia called on African nations to restore the prestige of coffee farming, urging them to join Tanzania’s mission to ensure that by 2035, at least 50% of African coffee undergoes value addition before being sold.
Her vision aligns with Africa’s push for economic self-sufficiency and greater earnings for local farmers, ensuring that the continent maximizes its benefits from one of its most valuable crops.
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