7 problems facing coffee farming in Tanzania
Pests which destroy large parts of farms leading to losses e.g. termites. Diseases which lead to poor quality output such as coffee wilt disease and coffee berry disease. Limited land for coffee plantations due to ever increasing population. Soil exhaustion due to monoculture leading to low and poor quality yields. Competition with other coffee producing countries like Brazil and Ivory Coast leading to inadequate market. Low prices and unstable coffee prices leading to price fluctuation on the world market which demoralizes the farmers. Prolonged drought and hailstorms which destroy coffee flowers leading to low output. Competition with other beverages e.g. tea, cocoa and vanilla which reduces demand. Dangerous animals e.g. snakes, wasps and bees which attack the workers hence scaring them away. Inadequate storage facilities which leads to losses due to rotting of the coffee and destruction by pests. Coffee has a long gestation period of about 3 1 / 2 years until the first ha...
