Coffee farmers pin dealers on poor quality
Jun 20, 2011
COFFEE farmers have called for government’s intervention to address the deteriorating coffee quality.
By Chris Mugasha
COFFEE farmers have called for government’s intervention to address the deteriorating coffee quality.
The farmers, under their umbrella group, the Ankole Coffee Producers Co-operative Union, accused coffee dealers of tampering with quality through poor handling.
They noted that Uganda’s coffee could lose value on the international market as a result, unless the Government enforces quality standards in the industry.
The farmers accused dealers of using crude methods, especially during drying. They claim that some businessmen mix coffee with stones.
The coffee farmers raised the concern at their 4th annual general meeting at Katungu Mothers Union hall in Bushenyi district on Friday.
“They (dealers) are not farmers. Therefore, their interest is only in making profits. We appeal to the Government to intervene because when Uganda’s coffee loses market, it is the farmers to suffer,†appealed Eliab Ngambe, the union’s chairperson.
Ngambe said despite their efforts to organise farmers through reinstating co-operative societies, they were facing competition from the coffee dealers.
He said the dealers use wreckless means to gain an upper hand in the coffee business.
“Since our coffee is competing with other countries in the coffee business on the international market, the Government must enforce quality,†John Nuwagaba, the union’s general manager, said.
The commissioner for co-operatives development, Fred Mwesigye, advised the farmers to mobilise themselves to increase production to have a firm foundation to negotiate for good prices globally.
He said more farmers’ co-operative unions were needed as a measure to out-compete the coffee dealers.
“Uganda’s coffee used to be top-rated compared to other countries’ coffee, but it is sometimes also rejected because its quality has declined,†Mwesigye noted.
Nuwagaba pointed out that last season, the co-operative exported 700 tonnes of coffee, adding that they were targeting about 1,000 tonnes this season.
Out of the 13 societies subscribing to the Ankole Coffee Producers Co-operative Union, Abateganda Co-operative Society in Ntungamo district, emerged the top contributor to the union, supplying over 73 tonnes of coffee last season.
Meanwhile, Roselynn Karatsi reports that six factories have been closed in Kinoni in Masaka district for compromising coffee quality, according to the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA).
The closed factories are Mbuga Coffee Factory, which was operating illegally and had no husk chamber. Namugera Coffee Millers and Kabayo Coffee Factory had dirty premises and were found drying coffee on bare ground.
Others closed are Kiyemba House Coffee Factory, which was drying coffee on roadsides. Yamwe Coffee Factory had no husk chamber and was unhygienic, with an uncemented floor, while Kyabakuza Young Coffee Factory also had no husk chamber, according to UCDA field staff.
The action has led to loss of millions of shillings, since a single factory processes approximately 3,000kg daily, according to Anthony Sembatya, the chairman of the Masaka Coffee Processors.
He said, apart from hurting their businesses, it has affected workers.
Sembatya argued that instead of closing the factories, UCDA should sensitise the farmers in villages about proper coffee handling and quality.
According to UCDA regulations, buyers and dealers are prohibited from drying coffee on bare ground as it affects coffee quality.
Exporting poor quality coffee affects Uganda’s coffee earnings
COFFEE farmers have called for government’s intervention to address the deteriorating coffee quality.
The farmers, under their umbrella group, the Ankole Coffee Producers Co-operative Union, accused coffee dealers of tampering with quality through poor handling.
They noted that Uganda’s coffee could lose value on the international market as a result, unless the Government enforces quality standards in the industry.
The farmers accused dealers of using crude methods, especially during drying. They claim that some businessmen mix coffee with stones.
The coffee farmers raised the concern at their 4th annual general meeting at Katungu Mothers Union hall in Bushenyi district on Friday.
“They (dealers) are not farmers. Therefore, their interest is only in making profits. We appeal to the Government to intervene because when Uganda’s coffee loses market, it is the farmers to suffer,†appealed Eliab Ngambe, the union’s chairperson.
Ngambe said despite their efforts to organise farmers through reinstating co-operative societies, they were facing competition from the coffee dealers.
He said the dealers use wreckless means to gain an upper hand in the coffee business.
“Since our coffee is competing with other countries in the coffee business on the international market, the Government must enforce quality,†John Nuwagaba, the union’s general manager, said.
The commissioner for co-operatives development, Fred Mwesigye, advised the farmers to mobilise themselves to increase production to have a firm foundation to negotiate for good prices globally.
He said more farmers’ co-operative unions were needed as a measure to out-compete the coffee dealers.
“Uganda’s coffee used to be top-rated compared to other countries’ coffee, but it is sometimes also rejected because its quality has declined,†Mwesigye noted.
Nuwagaba pointed out that last season, the co-operative exported 700 tonnes of coffee, adding that they were targeting about 1,000 tonnes this season.
Out of the 13 societies subscribing to the Ankole Coffee Producers Co-operative Union, Abateganda Co-operative Society in Ntungamo district, emerged the top contributor to the union, supplying over 73 tonnes of coffee last season.
Meanwhile, Roselynn Karatsi reports that six factories have been closed in Kinoni in Masaka district for compromising coffee quality, according to the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA).
The closed factories are Mbuga Coffee Factory, which was operating illegally and had no husk chamber. Namugera Coffee Millers and Kabayo Coffee Factory had dirty premises and were found drying coffee on bare ground.
Others closed are Kiyemba House Coffee Factory, which was drying coffee on roadsides. Yamwe Coffee Factory had no husk chamber and was unhygienic, with an uncemented floor, while Kyabakuza Young Coffee Factory also had no husk chamber, according to UCDA field staff.
The action has led to loss of millions of shillings, since a single factory processes approximately 3,000kg daily, according to Anthony Sembatya, the chairman of the Masaka Coffee Processors.
He said, apart from hurting their businesses, it has affected workers.
Sembatya argued that instead of closing the factories, UCDA should sensitise the farmers in villages about proper coffee handling and quality.
According to UCDA regulations, buyers and dealers are prohibited from drying coffee on bare ground as it affects coffee quality.
Exporting poor quality coffee affects Uganda’s coffee earnings