(Ecofin Agency) - Uganda’s coffee sector recorded quite good results during the 2017/18 season ended last September. Indeed, the country’s coffee exports over the period rose by 39.4% to 4.3 million bags, valued at $545 million, thus 67% more than during the previous season.

This achievement is to be attributed to the many planting campaigns initiated by the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) and other actors of the sector who boosted the country’s output. We should not also forget the greater involvement of farmers themselves.

“Farmers have become more organised and handling coffee and a business. When they get money, they re-invest it. That is why we have seen new crop coming into production,” said Joseph Nkandu, executive director of the National Union of Coffee Agribusiness and Farm Enterprises, NUCAFE). 

Uganda is Africa’s second largest coffee producer and the 9^th worldwide. The sector counts around 500,000 farmers and contributes to nearly a quarter of the country’s export revenues. 

Espoir Olodo