By Adonis Byemelwa
In the heart of Kimbugu ‘A’ village, Katoke Ward, Muleba District, Wilifaston Ishengoma (pictured) stands as a testament to the resilience and determination of local coffee farmers.
With his 22-acre coffee farm nearing its first harvest in 2025, Ishengoma’s journey to this point has not been easy. It’s a story of strategic investments, hard work, and a growing passion for sustainable farming that mirrors the challenges faced by countless farmers in Tanzania’s rich agricultural sector.
Ishengoma (56), a man deeply embedded in his community, explains how his agricultural story began. “In 2007, I bought 20 acres of land and planted pines. The returns were promising, but I wanted more.
By 2023, I decided to shift my focus towards coffee, expanding my farm to include 22 acres of coffee cultivation,” Ishengoma recalls.
But his journey wasn’t just about planting crops—his decision to embrace coffee farming was spurred by a larger vision: to uplift not only his farm but also his community.
This shift was made possible thanks to government initiatives aimed at supporting smallholder farmers like Ishengoma. Under the leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the government took a proactive step to enhance the coffee industry by providing seedlings to farmers.
In a stroke of good fortune, Ishengoma received a share of the 10,000 coffee seedlings distributed by the government to farmers in the region. “I got my seedlings from Luanga in the Kamachumu Ward of Muleba,” he says, explaining how these seedlings would mark the beginning of a transformative chapter for his farm.
However, the challenges of farming in a region like Muleba cannot be understated. Ishengoma, who is also a vanilla farmer, faces frequent issues with water access, an essential need for his crops.
Despite being unable to invest in an irrigation system with a pump from the nearby Ngono River due to financial constraints, he found innovative solutions.
“I had to rely on casual laborers to fetch water from the river—about a kilometer away—and the cost per container was 400 Tanzanian Shillings,” he reveals. This form of water collection is costly and inefficient, especially during dry spells when the precious liquid access becomes even more crucial.
The struggles of coffee farmers like Ishengoma are shared by many across the country. As coffee prices fluctuate on the global market, ensuring a steady income from coffee farming requires not just planting and harvesting but investing in the right tools and infrastructure.
For Ishengoma, improving irrigation methods is one of his top priorities. He hopes that with further investment, particularly through access to affordable loans and solar-powered irrigation systems, he will be able to mitigate the challenges posed by water scarcity.
While Ishengoma has managed to scale his operations, he acknowledges that many smallholder farmers in his area are still struggling. They face systemic barriers in accessing capital for crucial investments such as equipment, water infrastructure, and proper drying facilities.
The drying process alone is a major bottleneck for many coffee farmers. Ishengoma himself lacks the proper drying facilities, often facing delays that affect the quality of his harvest. “I need a proper godown and drying area to ensure my coffee beans are processed correctly and maintain their value in the market,” he says.
This need for investment is not just personal but collective. Ishengoma, like many in his community, believes that the government could play a more significant role in helping farmers secure the resources they need to expand their operations.
“The government can support us by providing loans to farmers, especially smallholders, to invest in farm infrastructure, irrigation systems, and drying facilities,” Ishengoma argues. “With the right support, we can increase our productivity and contribute to the nation’s economic growth.”
One of the major hurdles for farmers in regions like Muleba is the lack of reliable infrastructure. Without access to electricity or modern irrigation systems, many farmers face delays that affect not only their output but also their income.
Ishengoma’s hopes for a more sustainable farm rest on the ability to install solar-powered water pumps for irrigation, reducing his reliance on costly and unreliable methods. With solar power becoming an increasingly viable option, especially in rural areas, this could be a game-changer for coffee farmers who need access to water during the dry season.
But it’s not just about irrigation. The government’s role in ensuring access to reliable transport options is just as crucial. Transport logistics remain a significant challenge for farmers like Ishengoma, who struggle to move their harvested goods to processing centers or markets.
“Once we have harvested the coffee, the transport issue becomes critical. Without a suitable vehicle, I am at the mercy of unreliable transport options, which can delay my ability to get my crops to market,” Ishengoma says.
The good news is that Tanzanian farmers have witnessed some improvement. A series of reforms and initiatives, including government subsidies and loans for infrastructure development, are starting to have an impact. Nevertheless, Ishengoma believes the real turning point for farmers will come when the government acknowledges the scale of investment required for the coffee sector to thrive.
“It’s not just about giving farmers seeds or small loans. We need access to comprehensive support, including funding for the expansion of irrigation systems, drying facilities, and transport solutions,” he says.
The future of Tanzania’s coffee industry lies in the hands of farmers like Ishengoma. However, to fully realize their potential, they need better access to credit and financial support. Coffee farming, after all, is a long-term investment, and its success depends on more than just planting and harvesting.
For Ishengoma, the next step is to build a resilient infrastructure that can support his expanding farm, particularly as he prepares for his first harvest in 2025. The government’s role in facilitating this growth, through targeted financial assistance, is essential for ensuring the long-term success of smallholder farmers and the sector as a whole.
Tanzania’s coffee sector, which produces around 800,000 metric tons annually, continues to evolve as both local and global markets show a growing appetite for high-quality beans. The country’s coffee is gaining traction in premium markets, especially with the rise of specialty coffee.
As the global coffee industry reached a market value of nearly $500 billion in 2025, Tanzania has seen a steady increase in demand for its Arabica and Robusta varieties.
Agriculture Minister Hussein Bashe has emphasized the need for a holistic approach to supporting coffee farmers. “We are focusing on modernizing the sector, addressing everything from processing to infrastructure and sustainable farming practices,” Bashe said.
However, despite the promising market trends, smallholder farmers face significant challenges in tapping into these opportunities. Limited access to technology, irrigation, and quality fertilizers hampers their ability to meet international standards.
In 2025, the global coffee market remains competitive, with consumers increasingly prioritizing traceable and sustainable coffee. Tanzania has the potential to leverage this demand, but it requires continued investment in infrastructure, climate-resilient farming, and market access to help farmers like Wilifaston Ishengoma thrive. With the right support, Tanzania could become a more influential player in the global coffee industry.
With a steadfast commitment to sustainable farming, Wilifaston Ishengoma stands as an example of what is possible when farmers have the right resources at their disposal. But as he points out, it’s a journey that requires collaboration between farmers, the government, and the wider community. “Together, we can make coffee farming in Muleba and across Tanzania more prosperous and sustainable for future generations.”
