By Lydia Labanya and Simon Okitela
The coffee industry is facing a significant shift as it prepares to comply with new European Union regulations set to take effect on January 1, 2025, requiring all coffee entering the EU to be deforestation-free.
This poses considerable challenges for the country’s coffee farmers, especially those who have cultivated on lands cleared after December 2020.
During a stakeholders’ dialogue organized by SEATINI at Africana Hotel, several strategies were discussed to address these challenges.
Dr. Gerald Kyaalo, Director Development Services at UCDA, outlined the necessary steps Uganda must take to meet the new standards.
“We need a traceability system that tracks our coffee from the garden to the market,” said Dr Kyaalo.
“This requires us to know who is producing the coffee, where they are located, and what type of coffee they are growing.”
UCDA is focusing on establishing a comprehensive traceability system involving mapping and registering all coffee farmers nationwide to track the origin of the coffee accurately.
The traceability system will require detailed documentation, including GPS coordinates for all coffee farms.
Farms larger than 10 acres must provide polygon maps, while smaller farms need to submit specific GPS points.
“This is a mandate for us to access the European Union market effective January 2025,” Dr. Kyaalo explained.
“If you are not compliant with these regulations, you will not be able to export to the EU markets.”
To meet the December 30, 2024, deadline for mapping and registration, UCDA is collaborating with government agencies, private sector exporters, and international partners.
A national task force has been established, consisting of various stakeholders, to drive the initiative forward.
Despite a financial provision of 13.5 billion UGX—less than half of the required budget—UCDA plans to map the country in phases and seek additional funds in the next financial year.
“Given that coffee is one of our most important exports, we are working around the clock to ensure we meet the deadline,” Dr. Kyaalo said.
“The budget provision this financial year is 13.5 billion UGX, which is slightly less than half of what is required to map the entire country, but it is a good starting point.”
Christine Nakimwero Kaaya, Shadow Minister for Water and Environment, provided additional insights on the impact of the EU directives and the necessary steps for Uganda to comply.
“Uganda has been labeled as producing lazy coffee products, but we are moving forward. We must change that perception and progress,” Kaaya stated.
She underlined the importance of educating farmers about the new directives and the mechanisms being implemented in the coffee sector.
Kaaya raised concerns about potential confusion among farmers regarding the relationship between the new database and taxation.
“We need to be clear on the relationship between the database and taxation of farmers to avoid any misconceptions that could drive them away from compliance,” she said.
Kaaya also expressed optimism about the new directives, noting their potential to improve investment management and reduce exposure to greenhouse gases.
“I am happy that these regulations will help us manage our investments better and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions,” she added.
Addressing the climate change impact, Kaaya pointed out that reduced yields in coffee production were among the first agricultural negatives observed.
She called for a focus on integrating political forestry with smallholder farmers, ensuring that tree species are incorporated effectively in coffee farming practices.
“We need to come out clearly with guidelines on which tree species must be incorporated to ensure compliance and sustainability,” she emphasized.
Kaaya also stressed the importance of a well-composed task force to ensure effective implementation of the directives.
“The composition of the task force is critical. It should include members who reach out to the poorest of the poor to ensure inclusivity and prevent the failure of initiatives,” she said.
Kaaya ended by urging for clear communication and collaboration among all parties involved, including members of parliament and researchers, to ensure no market is lost.
“We must work together to avoid disqualifying factors for our farmers and ensure we do not lose any market opportunities,” she said.
Richard Okot Okello, Assistant Commissioner for External Trade, emphasized Uganda’s position amidst the new EU regulations.
“Uganda is left with only one plan: to comply,”
He underlined the urgency for all stakeholders to align with the directives to maintain Uganda’s market access to the EU.
According to Herbert Kafeero Programs and Communications Manager at SEATINI Uganda explained that the objective of the dialogue was to provide a platform for relevant stakeholders to examine the implications of the EU Directives on Uganda’s agriculture sector and coffee sub sector.
