Project Description

Project Description and Objectives

Coffee Project

The overall objective of the project is to deepen ETG’s engagement with its smallholder coffee suppliers in the Kagera region by implementing an integrated smallholder engagement program which will include extension services, supply chain management, value-added services and investments by ETG into farmer productivity and economic well-being.
ETG aims to deepen its engagement with existing and new coffee smallholder suppliers in the project area, by developing a fully integrated smallholder engagement program which will enable farmers to enhance their productivity and improve their livelihoods.
The Foundation’s exisiting ICT platform will be scaled up by adding significant functionality, transforming it in a complete seed-to-shelf management solution to help track farmers’ performance and facilitate access to productive inputs, credit and market.

Kagera Project:

EFF Tanzania won the Innovation Voucher Scheme (IVS) for the Coffee Partnership for Tanzania in November 2016. The goal of the Integrated Engagement Platform for Coffee Smallholders Project is to increase net incomes of at least 2,000 female and male small scale Robusta coffee farmers in Kagera Region by 2018. The main objectives are to increase access to productive inputs and knowledge of good agronomic practices (GAP); improve access to markets and finance; and strengthen grower groups to operate more efficiently and become active participants in the Robusta coffee value chain. EFF Tanzania has recruited five young coffee experts (FEOs), based in Kyerwa, Karagwe and Muleba districts, to give training and support to farmers in the field of group management, coffee cultivation and basic business skills. In order to promote pulses as a means to have an alternative income in between the coffee harvests, as their crop cycles are shorter, pigeon pea demonstration plots are being established. During the next period, rejuvenating old coffee plants and establishing demonstration plots with new coffee plants will be given priority, as well as strengthening the market relation between the producer groups and ETG.