Agric. & Environment
Ibanda coffee farmers feel pinch as prices continue to slide
Many farmers in the district share the harsh reality Tibenderana faced as coffee prices continue to fall in Ibanda, causing unease. Prices have been dropping over the past two months, reaching lows last experienced in January 2025.
Farmers are concerned as coffee prices continue to drop. (Photo by Stephen Nuwagira)
By: Stephen Nuwagira, Journalist @New Vision
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When Levi Tibenderana, a farmer from Kigarama in Bisheshe division, ferried a full sack of dry (kiboko) coffee to a factory at Kigarama trading centre for processing over the weekend, he expected some ‘good money’.
He was, however, shocked to be offered sh13,000 per kilogramme of Arabica coffee. I refused the money, but reluctantly accepted sh14,000 as I had to send my children back to school, he says. The farmer had expected to pocket sh16,000 a kilogramme, he adds.
Many farmers in the district share the harsh reality Tibenderana faced as coffee prices continue to fall in Ibanda, causing unease. Prices have been dropping over the past two months, reaching lows last experienced in January 2025.
Currently, Arabica coffee trades at sh14,000 per kilogramme in Ibanda town, as well as in Igorora trading centre in Ibanda South County and Kashangura in Kagongo division.
This compares with sh16,250, the price of clean coffee beans on September 2, meaning the beans have lost more than sh2,000 in value over the past two weeks.
Relatedly, the price of Robusta coffee has dropped to between sh10,500 and sh11,000 a kilogramme, down from sh12,000 during the reporting period.
This compares with sh16,250, the price of clean coffee beans on September 2, meaning the beans have lost more than sh2,000 in value over the past two weeks.
Relatedly, the price of Robusta coffee has dropped to between sh10,500 and sh11,000 a kilogramme, down from sh12,000 during the reporting period.
Geofrey Tukahirwa, a coffee dealer in Ibanda town, attributed the drop to low demand, saying bulk buyers were not in the market. He added that the long dry spell experienced in the district had affected the outturn and quality of coffee coming to the market.
Ibanda and the surrounding districts have been experiencing a dry spell that has destroyed crops, including coffee.
Some farmers are now worried about losing their investment due to the continued slide in prices.
Apolo Bigirwa, from Kashangura, said farmers were investing a lot of money in coffee production, which they are unlikely to recover if prices do not recover soon.
"We pay for labour, buy fertilisers and other key inputs to boost production. Now that the prices are dropping, we are losing our money," said the model farmer.
Ibanda and the surrounding districts have been experiencing a dry spell that has destroyed crops, including coffee.
Some farmers are now worried about losing their investment due to the continued slide in prices.
Apolo Bigirwa, from Kashangura, said farmers were investing a lot of money in coffee production, which they are unlikely to recover if prices do not recover soon.
"We pay for labour, buy fertilisers and other key inputs to boost production. Now that the prices are dropping, we are losing our money," said the model farmer.