Dar Es Salaam — LOCAL farmers will start benefiting from the rapid multiplication of new improved varieties of coffee, that will ensure quality of the product and sustainable supply to consumers.

The development has come about after Nestle in partnership with the Tanzania Coffee Research Institute (TaCRI), has undertaken training for a scientist from TCRI in the area of somatic embryogenesis.

Speaking to journalists in Dar es Salaam Nestle Vice-President, Mr Theo Mxakwe, said that Nestle has developed an advanced technology at its research centre in France, that has enabled the propagation of higher quality coffee trees, which have rejuvenated coffee plantations around the world.

He said that the company purchased over 154 million US dollars worth of coffee from Africa in 2008 and that it's decision to sponsor a local scientist is part of the company's business strategy to create a shared value along its value chain.

Mr Mxakwe noted that Nestle projects globally entails a long term commitment to individual countries and their people and that the company will continue to work closely with TaCRI, to ensure that the project benefits all in the value chain.

"Nestle equatorial African region will be working hand in hand with TaCRI on an implementation plan for the extension of the training programme from scientists to laboratories and national institutes," he said.

The coffee industry in Tanzania affects the livelihoods of over 2.1million farmers and their dependents, he said.

He noted that it was imperative for the company to work together with TaCRI to enable the local coffee farmers and industry benefit from the company's knowledge and expertise.

Mr Damian Mtenga, a local scientist who has just been trained, thanked Nestle for availing the training opportunity, adding that the move would help improve the quality of Tanzanian coffee and increase production levels.

"My one year training at Nestle Research Centre in France has been an eye opener and I believe will be useful to TaCRI and the coffee sector at large in many ways," he said.

"As we seek to improve the acreage under coffee and grow our share of the world market, we are well aware of the need to produce high quality coffee that ensures high returns to our farmers," he said.

The training took place in at Nestle's Coffee Research Centre in France, with the aim to improve capacity for the TaCRI scientists to develop protocols on micro-propagation, for improved Arabica and Robusta varieties developed by TCRI.