Utengule Coffee Estate in Mbeya Region is expanding coffee production while creating more employment opportunities, as Tanzania seeks to attract productive investments that support agricultural growth and rural livelihoods.
The Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA), during a monitoring visit to the estate, said the project illustrates the role of private investment in boosting agricultural production, creating jobs and facilitating technology transfer.
The estate currently produces about 200 tonnes of coffee annually and plans to increase output to 250 tonnes over the next few years. The expansion is expected to strengthen Tanzania's coffee value chain and enhance the country's position as a coffee producer.
TISEZA Southern Highlands Regional Manager, Mr Fidelis Obanga, said Mbeya remains one of Tanzania's most promising regions for agricultural investment due to its fertile land and favourable climate, particularly for coffee and other strategic crops.
"Projects such as Utengule Coffee Estate demonstrate how investment can increase production, generate employment and transfer modern farming technologies to local communities," he said.
The estate employs more than 100 permanent workers, while the workforce rises to between 200 and 500 employees during the coffee harvesting season, providing a significant source of income for households in the surrounding communities.
According to TISEZA, the estate has also invested in modern production technologies that enable Tanzanian workers to acquire practical skills in coffee cultivation and processing through on-the-job training.
Utengule Coffee Estate investor Mr Hans Faessler attributed the company's continued investment in Tanzania to what he described as an improving investment environment that supports long-term business growth.
An employee who has worked at the estate for more than five years said the project has provided stable employment and valuable technical skills, particularly in operating modern coffee processing equipment.
The employee noted that the knowledge gained by workers has also begun benefiting coffee cooperative societies, many of which are adopting modern production technologies to improve productivity and coffee quality.
The visit forms part of TISEZA's broader programme to monitor investment projects across the country and encourage investments that contribute to economic growth, employment creation and value addition in key sectors.
