African Coffee Industry at Risk as Climate Change Threatens Yields

Experts are urging African coffee farmers to adopt climate-smart strategies, such as reforestation and crop diversification, to protect their livelihoods as climate change increasingly disrupts production.

Speaking at the African Coffee Week exhibition in Dar es Salaam, Julius Ng’ang’a, Senior Director for Eastern and Southern Africa at Rainforest Alliance, warned that rising temperatures and erratic weather patterns are already reducing coffee yields across the continent.

“If immediate action isn’t taken, Africa’s coffee industry could face a severe crisis, endangering the livelihoods of millions,” he cautioned.

Ng’ang’a emphasized diversification as a key strategy for resilience, recommending that farmers intercrop coffee with high-value crops like avocados to stabilize incomes amid market fluctuations.

The event brought together coffee farmers, supply chain stakeholders, government officials, and industry experts to discuss practical solutions for strengthening resilience against climate change, regulatory challenges, and biodiversity loss.

Prof. Aurelia Kamuzora, Chairperson of the Tanzania Coffee Board (TCB), underscored the importance of reforestation for sustainable coffee production.

“Climate change is a major concern. Temperatures in Dar es Salaam have risen sharply, and international buyers are prioritizing coffee grown in areas where deforestation has not occurred,” she noted.

She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to tree planting and clean energy initiatives to mitigate environmental damage.

Beyond climate challenges, industry leaders highlighted economic hurdles, including high costs of value addition and limited market access.

Amir Hamza, director of a coffee processing factory in Bukoba, Kagera Region, called for stronger collaboration to enhance product quality and boost local consumption.

“To shield our coffee industry from global price volatility, we must focus on value addition and encourage more Tanzanians to embrace coffee drinking,” he said.

As climate change intensifies, experts stress that urgent and coordinated action is needed to secure the future of Africa’s coffee industry.

busiinge@ghettopost.com