Uganda's coffee, cocoa and dairy exports surge

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Uganda’s agriculture sector has posted strong gains in production, export earnings and household incomes, driven by improved performance in coffee, cocoa, oil palm, dairy and fisheries, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF).

The sector has benefited from expanded mechanisation, increased irrigation coverage, strengthened disease and pest control, and growing agro-processing capacity, reinforcing agriculture’s role as a key driver of jobs, exports and inclusive economic growth.

The permanent secretary of the ministry, Maj. Gen. David Kasura-Kyomukama, said the results underscore the government’s commitment to transforming agriculture from subsistence to a commercial, market-driven sector.

“Uganda’s agriculture is more than a sector; it is the soul of the nation. It feeds families, sustains livelihoods and drives exports, industrialisation and job creation,” Kasura-Kyomukama said in a statement issued on Wednesday, January 21, 2026.

He said government efforts have focused on raising productivity, protecting farmers from disease risks, expanding irrigation, strengthening value addition and opening new markets to accelerate agro-industrialisation and household wealth creation.

According to MAAIF records, Government investments have prioritised research and extension services, improved genetics, pest and disease control, mechanisation, irrigation, post-harvest handling, value addition and market access.

Agriculture by the Numbers

•   About 70 percent of Uganda’s households 7.12 million out of 10.8 million are engaged in agriculture

•    The sector contributed 26.1 percent to GDP in FY 2024/25, growing by 6.6 percent

•   Agricultural exports rose from USD 1.66 billion in FY 2020/21 to USD 4.18 billion in FY 2024/25, accounting for 38.5 percent of total exports

•   Of the 96 agriculture-related manifesto targets set in 2021, 70 have been fully achieved, 10 are ongoing and 16 are yet to be implemented

Coffee remains Uganda’s strongest agricultural success story, recording its highest export earnings on record.

Government supplied over 85 million coffee seedlings, mobilised farmers to stump more than 15 million old trees, distributed 150,000 bags of organic fertiliser, and promoted disease-resistant varieties to boost yields and quality.

•  Production increased from 7.75 million bags in FY 2019/20 to 9.3 million bags in FY 2024/25

•  Export earnings hit a record $2.2 billion in FY 2024/25 from 8.2 million bags, contributing about 22 percent of total exports

•   The coffee value chain now supports livelihoods for about 12.5 million Ugandans

Relatedly, cocoa, oil palm, and dairy show strong growth. Cocoa has emerged as Uganda’s second-leading agricultural export, with export value increasing nearly ninefold from $70.6 million to $620.4 million as production and processing capacity expanded.

Oil palm production reached about 41,000 metric tonnes annually, reducing the vegetable oil import bill and providing farmers with steady monthly incomes of about sh500,000 per acre.

The dairy sector progressive report indicated that milk production nearly doubled from 2.81 billion litres to 5.3 billion litres. Export earnings tripled from $92.4 million to $280 million.

Relatedly, 145 processing facilities were established, supported by improved breeds, veterinary services and quality enforcement.

In the tea sector, Government also distributed nearly 189 million tea seedlings to revive the sector, while making historic investments in livestock vaccination, cold-chain infrastructure and local vaccine manufacturing to protect farmer incomes.

Mechanisation and irrigation drive commercial farming

Government has deployed over 1,080 tractors, 1,350 power tillers, and trained more than 2,000 operators, alongside subsidised hire services and the establishment of mechanisation centres.

Irrigation expansion added 3,576 hectares under formal schemes, while hundreds of valley tanks, dams and solar-powered irrigation systems were constructed to improve climate resilience.

Fisheries also recorded growth.  Fish production increased from 621,987 tonnes in 2021 to 728,369 tonnes in 2023, with beach value rising to sh 2.2 trillion.

2026–2031 priorities

The next phase of agricultural transformation will focus on deepening agro-industrialisation, reducing post-harvest losses, expanding irrigation and mechanisation, strengthening standards and certification, and improving market access through initiatives such as a national marketing company and an export guarantee scheme.

Kasura-Kyomukama said agriculture remains central to Uganda’s long-term vision.

“Agriculture is the path through which Uganda can transition from a peasant-based society to a middle-class, knowledge-based economy capable of securing its future.”

With sustained investment and policy focus, Uganda’s agriculture sector is increasingly positioning itself as a competitive force in regional and global markets, delivering growth, resilience and inclusive prosperity.