Stakeholders in the coffee industry have cautioned that Uganda stands at risk of losing its position as a world major produce incase immediate action for intervention delays.
This is because reports have revealed that 2023 has come as a challenging year with inconsistent weather conditions, drought and long dry spells that have hit major coffee growing areas.
In 2021/2022, data from Uganda Coffee Development Authority indicates that coffee exports stood at 6.26 million bags amounting to 862.28 million dollars.
Only GEEPAS With Genuine Products
However, since then arising challenges mentioned above have caused stake holders to question the sustainability of production for Africa’s second largest producer and exporter.
Paolo Bray, the Director World Sustainability Organization mentioned that to avert poor statistics for the year 2023, farmers need to be educated on the benefits of sustainable farming.
According to him, with proper sustainable farming methods like irrigation, proper harvesting methods and more, farmers can beat some challenges like dry spells. Paolo specifically urged the government to strongly and urgently educate famers.
“Immediate action must be taken in order to mitigate adverse effects because if not so, the effects can potentially cut output to around 5.5 million bags in 2023 causing Uganda to lose its position,” he said.
In areas like Acholi region according to recent reports, coffee production has remained stagnated at 500,000 bags since 2020 due to partly similar challenges as prolonged drought and ineffective farming methods.
Mitigating the same according to some farmers that have taken action in Western Uganda would require emphasis on tree planting to provide shade for tress during long dry spells, sustainable farming methods like irrigation among others.
Other challenges putting coffee production at risk according to reports include poor soil conservation techniques, ineffective harvesting methods and climatic changes.
By Shifrah Kwagala.