By Prossy Nandudu
Uganda Coffee Development Authority failed to supply the whole country with coffee seedlings in the financial year 2022/2023 due to a shortage of funds for the purchase of seedlings despite the increased demand.
This is according to a report presented to stakeholders during the Agro Industrialization Program review, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture at Speke Resort Munyonyo recently.
According to the report, UCDA had unpaid coffee seedlings arrears amounting to sh49.9 billion to clear previous suppliers, and only sh2.499 billion for payment of nursery operators who supplied the authority in the financial year 2024/25.
As a result, this affected the performance of coffee in the year under review (2022/23), added the report. For example, UCDA exported 5.8 million 60kg bags of coffee worth USD 846 million.
This represented a decrease of 10.8% and 3.3% in quantity and value respectively, compared to the performance of the financial year 2021/22.
Other reasons for the drop in export volumes include prolonged drought, pests and diseases, use of poor-quality seed among others.
