The United Republic of Tanzania, situated on the East Coast of Africa, shares borders with seven neighboring countries: Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, DRC, Malawi, and Mozambique. Its coastline extends nearly 1,500 kilometers along the Indian Ocean, featuring the iconic island of Zanzibar just off the mainland. Tanzania is a land of remarkable contrasts, with altitudes ranging from sea level to Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro, towering at 5,895 meters above sea level.

Renowned for its rich biodiversity, Tanzania hosts diverse wildlife sanctuaries, including the famed Serengeti National Park, known for its vast migratory herds of plains animals such as wildebeest, zebra, eland, and kudu, as well as Gombe National Park along Lake Tanganyika, home to small bands of chimpanzees.

Despite its natural wealth, agriculture forms the backbone of Tanzania’s economy, employing approximately 90% of the workforce and contributing 57% to the GDP  and 85% of exports. Maize, rice, and wheat are staple crops, while coffee, predominantly Arabica, is a major cash crop. Over 85% of Tanzania’s coffee is grown by smallholder farmers. Additionally, the country produces cotton, tobacco, cashew nuts, tea, and sisal. Zanzibar specializes in cloves and other spices.

Arabica coffee was first introduced as a commercial crop in Tanzania in 1900, primarily cultivated on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. Today, coffee production extends across various highland regions of the country, contributing significantly to Tanzania’s agricultural output.

• Varieties: Arabica, Robusta
• Production: 1.26 million bags (2023-2024)
• Export: 1.17 million bags
• Marketing system: Auction and direct sales
• Harvest season: May-September (Arabica), May-July (Robusta)
• Port of shipment: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
• Export destinations: Belgium, China, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and US (Arabica), Algeria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Japan, Morocco,  (Robusta)

Data provided by Tanzania Coffee Board, 2024.