This study was conducted to evaluate challenges of improving participation and adoption of Coffee and Farmer Equity (C.A.F.E) Practices to coffee growers side in Mbinga District, Tanzania. The sample size constituted 188 respondents selected from smallholder farmers members of KIMULI AMCOS. Survey, focused dialogues, interviews with key informants and non-participant observation were used to collect data from the respondents. Descriptive statistics and content analysis were used to analyze quantitative and qualitative data respectively. The study found unsatisfactory adoption of certification scheme caused by challenges experienced by farmers such as unpredictable coffee price, frequent incidence of diseases in coffee, the inability of coffee growers to attain economic efficiency and limited farmers’ involvement in standard setting. The study recommends coffee certification actors promote the adoption of coffee production best practices, trengthen farmers' bargaining power and ensure farmers’ active participation in the development of certification standards.

Keywords: Coffee Certification, CA.F.E Practices, Smallholder Farmers, Challenges.