Uganda to export 3.8 million bags of coffee

A farmer prunes coffee. With best practices, Uganda can increase its coffee output. File PHOTO 

Uganda expects to export more than three million bags of coffee this year despite the challenge of unpredictable weather patern, which is the main constraint.

It would be the highest volume of coffee from Uganda on the international market. This was disclosed by Norman Mutekanga, an official from Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) during an annual stakeholders’ meeting, held last month, and organised by Uganda National Coffee Platform.

“Last year, Uganda exported 3.3 million bags of coffee but this year targets 3.8 million bags,” Mutekanga said.

Nearly 42 per cent of farming households grow some coffee and coffee contributes an average of 30 per cent to foreign exchange earnings.

Increase production
He added that the target can be achieved via applying good agronomic practices among others. Through this, Uganda can produce twice as much Robusta at 1.2 kilos of green coffee per tree.

In the national coffee strategy, the plan for 2015/2016-2019/2020 indicates the potential to increase production.
In five years, production could even go up to six million bags if the strategy is fully implemented.

But in order to meet the target, the role of extension services and farmers’ organisations are pivotal as observed by Victoria Sekitoleko, the chairperson, Uganda Agribusiness Alliance, and a former minister for agriculture.

Transition
The focus should be on transforming farming structure from a smallholder largely subsistence to commercial based on diversified agro systems and food security, which are some of the most important transitions required.

“Stakeholders have to start with boosting incomes from existing smallholder farms and this requires establishing a strong coffee-specific extension services to assist farmers’ households to increase production, productivity and quality,” Sekitoleko said.

She added that in order to increase coffee production, it will be important to have an effective coordination, monitoring and evaluation framework.