Decline of Coffee Production and its Effects on the Income of Farmers

Abstract

The study aimed to examine the decline of coffee production and its effect on the income of farmers in rural areas of Arumeru District in Arusha Region. The study was guided by three specific objectives. First is to examine the contributions of coffee production on livelihood of farmers. Secondly is to find out causes of the decline of coffee production in the study area. Thirdly, is to examine consequences of declining coffee production. Data for this study was collected from six villages located in the middle land and highland zones, three villages from each zone. The primary data was sought through questionnaire and secondary data through literature review. While qualitative data were subjected to thematic analysis, quantitative was processed through Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). In the light of the research objectives, the following findings were presented. First, the income obtained through coffee production attended important matter in the household. Secondly, the result show that there was no variation on causes of decline coffee production for the village found on middle land and highland zones. The main causes were low producer price 62.2%; high inputs cost 30% and ageing of coffee trees. Thirdly, the study show there is low impacts resulted from decline coffee production. The study recommends that in order to alleviate the coffee decline trends, the ageing coffee tree, need be replaced by new varieties that have high yielding potential and resistant to pest and disease attack. The government should establish mechanism to reduce the cost of farm inputs inform of crop subsidy so that farmers could increase production, hence realize high income.