Various farmers from different parts of Uganda have shared the difficulties they encounter when trying to produce high-quality coffee, which is essential for the coffee value-addition process, whether for local consumption or international trade. The revelations came to light during the International Coffee Day celebrations held at the headquarters of Agri Evolve Uganda Limited in Nyabirongo Village, Kisinga Town Council, Kasese district, on October 5, 2023. The event drew in hundreds of attendees, including coffee farmers, dealers, and key stakeholders.
Charles Mugisa Muchwangali, a coffee farmer from Kabarole district, pointed out that many coffee growers lack awareness of best practices for producing high-quality coffee due to a lack of sensitization.
Jonny Rowland, the managing director of Agri Evolve Uganda Limited, which is involved in extensive coffee purchasing and value addition, also noted that a significant challenge is the limited accessibility to coffee washing machines for farmers in remote areas with poor road infrastructure. This limitation hampers the transportation of coffee from these areas to value addition centers.
Moses Kyakora, the marketing manager of Bukonzo Organic Farmer’s Cooperative Union, a company that exports coffee internationally, highlighted the issue of high taxation on coffee value addition machines that they would like to import into Uganda. He called upon the government to grant tax exemptions on these machines to promote coffee value addition.
Ham Natuhwera, the vice chairperson of Kasese district LC5, emphasized the prolonged droughts faced by coffee farmers in Kasese, which deprive coffee plants of adequate water needed for good yields. He requested government funding for mini-irrigation schemes in various villages to mitigate this challenge.
Tony Herald Muhindo, the Member of Parliament for Bukonzo East, urged the government to provide free basic tools such as pangas, hoes, and forks to farmers residing in mountainous regions, where tractors cannot operate effectively. He emphasized the need to support coffee farmers in these areas, considering the importance of the coffee value addition chain.
Dr. Emanuel Iyamulemye Niyibigira, the managing director of Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA), mentioned that UCDA has been actively engaging with coffee farmers and dealers across the country to ensure the production of high-quality coffee, maintaining Uganda’s coffee standards in both local and international markets. Regional offices have been established to provide services to farmers efficiently.
Fred Bwino Kyakulaga, the minister of state for agriculture, emphasized that coffee contributes significantly to Uganda’s foreign revenue, amounting to over 900 billion every financial year. He encouraged farmers to adopt value addition methods to maximize their benefits from coffee production.
International Coffee Day is celebrated worldwide on October 1st every year, but Uganda opted to celebrate it on October 4th under the theme “Celebrating Arabic Coffee from the Foothills of Mount Rwenzori.”
