• Tanzania’s coffee regulator is developing irrigation to raise yields year-round
• Thirteen wells have been drilled in major coffee regions, with twelve already in use
• The effort supports the national goal to reach 300,000 tons of coffee by 2030

Tanzania’s Coffee Board (TCB) is stepping up efforts to improve the sustainability and productivity of the coffee sector by expanding irrigation in key producing areas. The update was shared at a press briefing reported on December 12 by the local daily Daily News.

According to TCB spokesperson Mikidadi Evod, the regulator has already facilitated the drilling of 13 wells to supply irrigation water to plantations in the Mbeya and Mbozi regions. Twelve of these wells are operational, while the last is nearing completion. The goal, he said, is to enable coffee cultivation throughout the year.

The announcement comes as Tanzania seeks to strengthen its position on the global coffee market. In April, the government stated its intention to raise national coffee production to 300,000 tons by 2030, nearly four times higher than the 81,000-ton harvest recorded at the end of the 2024/2025 season.

In line with this ambition, the TCB and the Cereals and Other Produce Regulatory Authority (COPRA) signed memoranda of understanding on April 25, 2025, with a U.S. partner to develop and implement national strategies to increase coffee and cocoa production.

Earlier, in February 2025, Tanzania joined other African producers at the 3rd African G25 Coffee Summit in Dar es Salaam in committing to raise the continent’s share of global output to 20% by 2030, from the current 11%.

Because the country exports nearly 95% of its annual production, higher harvest volumes are expected to boost export performance. According to data compiled on the Trade Map platform, Tanzania earned $303.9 million in coffee export revenue in 2024.

Stéphanas Assocle