By Stephen Nuwagira
Arabica coffee was trading at highs last recorded about two years back in Ibanda on Monday, with a kilogramme of the beans (clean) going for sh12,000.
This shows an increase from sh11,000 a kilo last week, sh10,200 in mid-February, and sh10,000 at the beginning of February.
However, the beans cost sh11,000 in Kashangura town, Kagongo Division in Ibanda Municipality.
Arabica coffee beans hit record highs of sh12,000 in mid-2022 but dropped to sh8,000 per kilo at the start of December 2023.
Although the Arabica coffee harvest season is mid-way, the quantities coming to the market are minimal and dwindling, according to Gerald Mubangizi, a coffee dealer.
Apollo Bigirwa attributed this to climate change impacts, explaining that the district received a lot of rain during the flowering stage, which hurt the crop, leading to low production. Arabica coffee requires sunny spells for a good crop, he added.
Meanwhile, robusta farmers pocket sh11,000 per kilogramme in Ibanda town, increasing from sh10,700 last month. Those in Kashangura town, Kagongo Division get sh10,500 a kilo of clean.
This indicates an increase from sh7,500 year-on-year (that is compared to the price of March 20, 2023).
Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) daily market indicative prices for March 18, Kiboko cost between sh4,800 and sh5,500, FAQ was at 10,000-11,000, while Arabica parchment ranged from sh11,000-12,000 and Drugar coffee (clean) sh10,000-11,000.
