Contribution Of Small Scale Coffee Farmers’ Groups For Coffee Production, Processing And Marketing In Mbozi District, Mbeya Region

ABSTRACT

This research aimed to study the contribution of small scale coffee farmers‟ groups in Mbozi district, Mbeya region. The specific objectives included, identifying the factors that influenced the coffee farmers‟ groups formation, delineating the roles of the coffee farmers‟ groups in the coffee production, processing and marketing, assessing the performance of the coffee farmers‟ groups in facilitating the group members in coffee production, processing and marketing and identifying various challenges faced by the coffee farmers‟ groups in supporting the group members. The study adopted a crosssectional research design whereby data were collected at once. Both primary and secondary data were collected for the purpose of this study. Sample size of 100 respondents was selected in the study area. The results of the study show that major factors influencing coffee farmers‟ group formation were better price for coffee produce, increased market accessibility, good quality for coffee and cost reduction. Findings also showed that role and performance of Coffee Farmers‟ Groups enabled coffee farmers to access production inputs and extension services, pooling coffee from their members and providing market information to their members. The research findings brought out constraints to the performance of Coffee Farmers‟ Groups (CFGs). These include coffee price fluctuation, financial capital shortage, poor government support in terms of input subsidies, poor group administration, inadequate infrastructure, low education of members, delay in obtaining inputs and their high price, coffee diseases, unreliable rainfall and lack of export market. It is recommended that there should be clear regulations that guide CFGs formation, CFGs capacity development and provision of subsidies for coffee production inputs.