Coffee is one of Uganda’s most valuable exports, but it’s time farmers learned how to turn their coffee farms into highly profitable businesses.
Joseph Nkandu, Executive Director of the National Union of Coffee Agribusinesses and Farm Enterprises (NUCAFE), noted that coffee farming is one of the most lucrative ventures in the world.
‘’The global demand for coffee is enormous, but Uganda’s production is not keeping pace with consumption,’’ he explained.
Nkandu noted it is an opportunity for farmers to add value and capture more of the market because of the increased daily consumption of 2-3 billion cups worldwide.
Edward Lutaakome, Uganda’s Best Farmer in 2024, urged fellow farmers to focus on quality and join cooperatives to access better markets.
“Clients pay for quality, taste and flavour which are key to attracting them,” he emphasized.
Lutaakome’s words set the stage for a deep dive into value-added processes such as drying, hulling, and packaging at the farm level.
For farmers like Monday Dianah from Kasanje, the expo was a game-changer.
“I’ve learnt so much about coffee spacing and the value chain,” she said. “This training is exactly what I needed to improve my farm’s productivity and income.”
This was during the recent Harvest Money Expo which was sponsored by ABI, Pepsi, Tunga Nutrition, Engsol, UDC, and Bella Wines are playing a key role in supporting the expo’s educational efforts and also offering exciting deals for farmers looking to purchase equipment and services that will help boost their operations.
