Why Do Smallholder Famers In Four Tanzanian Districts Continue With Coffee Production Despite Fluctuating Prices?

Coffee production and marketing in Tanzania faces many challenges; price and weather variability, limited access to agricultural inputs, poor extension services, lack of irrigation, lack of credit facilities and land shortage which have decreased their capacity to consistently meet the supply of quality and required quantity. Despite of the challenges, coffee continues to be the main source of income to smallholder farmers. The study explores why coffee is still the most important crop to small scale farmers in four districts despite of the challenges they face. Household survey was conducted to 189 randomly selected coffeefarmers. The study found out that despite of the production and marketing challenges, coffee farming has remained a source of reliable income, a traditional crop and cultural symbol. Conclusions are reached that gaining from coffee production provides the means of investment to other food crops.