Emerging Coffee Pest Challenges and Management Gaps: Evidence from Smallholder Farmers in Southern Highlands, Tanzania

Abstract

Coffee production among smallholder farmers in Tanzania’s Southern Highlands faces increasing threats from pests that reduce yield and quality. Limited access to effective pest management strategies exacerbates this challenge in low-income settings. This study examined emerging pest challenges and existing management gaps in Mbinga, Mbeya, and Mbozi Districts, Tanzania, using questionnaires, focus group discussions, and interviews with 184 farmers. The findings revealed that pests previously regarded as minor, such as thrips, mealybugs, green scale, and snails, are now perceived as major threats. Farmers also demonstrated limited knowledge of chemical and cultural control methods, highlighting a significant gap in pest management capacity. These findings emphasize the complexity of pest management in smallholder coffee systems, driven by both evolving pest pressures and limited farmer expertise. To address these challenges, the Tanzanian government, in collaboration with stakeholders such as the Tanzania Coffee Research Institute (TaCRI), Tropical Pesticides Research Institute (TPRI), Tanzania Coffee Board (TCB), and agricultural cooperatives, should strengthen extension services. Hands-on training in integrated pest management and safe pesticide use is essential. Additionally, raising farmer awareness of effective cultural and chemical practices will be critical to sustaining coffee productivity and protecting livelihoods in the Southern Highlands.