By Stephen Nuwagira
Coffee prices have continued the upward trend in Ibanda district with both Robusta and Arabica coffee beans registering mixed gains over the past month.
Dealers pay farmers up to sh12,500 per kilogramme of Robusta coffee beans (clean) presently in Ibanda town, indicating an increase from sh11,000 mid-March.
Low-quality beans go for about sh12,300 a kilo. However, Robusta coffee beans go for sh12,000 in Igorora town council in Ibanda South County.
Relatedly, Arabica coffee is trading atsh12,600 per kilo in Ibanda town compared to sh12,000 mid-last month. It is going for sh11,800 in Igorora trading centre.
Meanwhile, traders and coffee cooperatives say positive sentiment in the market was attracting good buyers, which has pushed up the prices.
Deogratias Tihwaya, the chairperson of Nyakatookye Coffee Growers Cooperative Society, said the price gains for both coffee varieties to demand from Kampala processors amid low supply.
Godwin Musinguzi, a coffee dealer in Igorora town council, however, projects the prices to increase further as the low supply of the beans persists.
The Arabica coffee harvest season is ending while that of Robusta has just started late last month and is expected to peak next month.
UCDA daily market prices
According to Tuesday indicative prices by Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) fair average quality (FAQ) coffee beans ranged from sh10,000-11,500 per kilo, kiboko was quoted at sh4,700-5,500; Arabica parchment sh11,000-12,000 and drugar coffee (clean) was going for sh10,000-11,000.
