Ibanda coffee farmers upbeat despite drop in prices

________________

Coffee farmers in Ibanda are optimistic of better days ahead despite the current drop in prices.

Traders quoted Arabica coffee beans (clean) at sh16,000 per kilogramme in Ibanda town on October 1.

But farmers with quality beans pocket sh17,000 per kilo. It costs sh16,500 a kilo in Nyakatookye, Kagongo division. This indicates a drop from sh18,000 during the first week of September.

Robusta coffee costs sh13,500 per kilo in Ibanda town, but is lower at sh13,000 in Rushango town council, Ibanda North County. The beans were at sh15,000 per kilo at the beginning of last month.

Mable Ninsiima Kakuba, a model coffee farmer in Bufunda division, Ibanda Municipality, believes the price reduction is temporary. She projects a rebound in prices in coming weeks, adding that quality coffee beans still attract good rates.

Kakuba is urging fellow coffee farmers to ensure standards along the value chain for better prices, arguing that quality gives them a bargaining power.

Godfrey Tukahirwa, a coffee dealer in Ibanda town, says the prices have been range-bound over the past few weeks and he projects the trend to continue in coming days.

He says the prices for both Arabica and Robusta coffee varieties were largely influenced by demand from bulk buyers. However, he says the buyers, especially from Kampala, were fewer in the market presently.