THE US African Development Foundation (USADF) has awarded a grant of 250m/- to Lukani-Losaa Agricultural Marketing Cooperative Society (Amcos) to help tackle challenges affecting production of coffee destined for international markets.

The Amcos located in Hai District, Kilimanjaro Region, which has 580 members is implementing a five-year strategic plan (2024/2029) aimed at boosting production by encouraging new farmers and expanding farms, as well as establishing a digital system for recording and managing business information and the cooperative's accounts.

Speaking about the project’s implementation here at the weekend, Gilliard Nkini, USADF Resident Project Coordinator in Tanzania, said that the organization collaborates with the government to enhance efficiency in coffee subsector.

 “We fully understand that for a nation to achieve productivity in farming and for farmers to truly benefit, they must join cooperative groups that are closely managed by the Registrar of Cooperatives,” he said.

USADF operates in 22 African countries, focusing on improving incomes of farmers and agricultural processors, recognising that this is crucial for the economies of African nations.

Ebenetho Munuo, chairman of Lukani-Losaa Amcos, said that the grant reflects the cooperative’s solid strategic plan for coffee development through cooperative system.

 “The primary conditions of this grant include directing project funds towards constructing of production and processing infrastructure, enhancing irrigation systems, promoting environmental conservation and strengthening systems for disseminating knowledge and essential information about quality of coffee,” he said.

He said the overall aim of the project is to increase both the volume and quality of coffee, raise coffee prices and farmer incomes and ultimately improve the quality of life for coffee farmers and their communities.

The projected harvest for the 2025/26 coffee season is expected to be 150,000 kilogrammes.

According to the cooperative’s reports, opportunities in international markets have expanded, with direct markets now established in Japan, the United States, Australia and China.