Moshi — THE coffee industry in the country has a role to play in the fulfillment of a wider national policy requirement of protecting the environment, said the Director General of Tanzania Coffee Board (TCB), Engineer Adolph Kumburu.

He explained that the preservation of the environment is an integral part of TCB's strategy. Eng. Kumburu told the 'Sunday News', in an exclusive interview here, that various coffee farmers' organisations in Tanzania were certified in accordance with international standards certification organisations, such as the Fair-trade International, Ultiz, AC, Rainforest Alliance and Café Practice.

"With the support of those international bodies, we comply with their standards requirements, such as protecting the environment - tree planting, protecting water sources and minimum application of synthetic and other offfarm fertilizers and pesticides," he indicated.

According to Eng. Kumburu, Tanzania balances environmental protection and business plans as well as minimizing the use of energy especially from non-renewable sources leading to growing number of Tanzanian farmers beginning to embrace organic practices.

In separate development the global pricing of coffee, has remained one of the major income obstacles to producers leaving them with marginal returns. Eng Kumburu said that Tanzania, with other members in Africa, Caribbean and Pacific countries (ACPC) are pushing for a fair international agricultural commodity pricing system in a resolve to boost producer incomes, adding that to enhance the marketability and competitiveness of our coffee.

Tanzania continues to cooperate with other countries in the Eastern Africa Fine Coffees Association, which consists of eleven coffee producer countries in the region, with a shared vision of improving the quality of life through production of quality coffee.