Coffee export volumes to double by 2012
Jan 15, 2008
A CAMPAIGN to increase coffee exports from 2.7 million bags to four million bags by 2012, has been launched. Clive Drew, the managing director of the USAID-funded agricultural productivity enhancement programme, said the increase would earn the country over $700m annually.
By Macrines Nyapendi
A CAMPAIGN to increase coffee exports from 2.7 million bags to four million bags by 2012, has been launched. Clive Drew, the managing director of the USAID-funded agricultural productivity enhancement programme, said the increase would earn the country over $700m annually.
“We can get 100% increase in volume and value and also an extra 10% value for high quality with the existing coffee trees if the Government shows commitment by investing in research and empowering farmers by providing them with subsidised inputs.
“With the escalating global prices, an opportunity to earn $642m in the last five coffee seasons was lost,†Drew said.
The campaign is being promoted jointly with the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA), Coffee Research Centre (COREC) and the exporters.
Drew explained that the sector needed to be rejuvenated by enhancing production and quality, input supply and setting up farmer organisations to improve information sharing.
The coffee exports were wrecked by the coffee wilt disease, which destroyed over 120m Robusta coffee trees; about 52% of the total coffee tree population.
Initially, an estimated 240,000 hectares of land was covered with coffee of which 90% was Robusta.
Henry Ngabirano, the head of the UCDA, said over 300m improved wilt resistant Robusta coffee trees were replanted.
He said the Government had planned to plant a billion seedlings in 10 years but the programme was suspended due to lack of funding.
At the Mukono-based COREC, where the campaign was launched, over 1,000 improved low land Arabica coffee and resistant Robusta coffee has been introduced, its official, Dr. Afrikano Kangire said disclosedof COREC, said bridging research and production was the main constraint the centre faced due to limited funding.
A CAMPAIGN to increase coffee exports from 2.7 million bags to four million bags by 2012, has been launched. Clive Drew, the managing director of the USAID-funded agricultural productivity enhancement programme, said the increase would earn the country over $700m annually.
“We can get 100% increase in volume and value and also an extra 10% value for high quality with the existing coffee trees if the Government shows commitment by investing in research and empowering farmers by providing them with subsidised inputs.
“With the escalating global prices, an opportunity to earn $642m in the last five coffee seasons was lost,†Drew said.
The campaign is being promoted jointly with the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA), Coffee Research Centre (COREC) and the exporters.
Drew explained that the sector needed to be rejuvenated by enhancing production and quality, input supply and setting up farmer organisations to improve information sharing.
The coffee exports were wrecked by the coffee wilt disease, which destroyed over 120m Robusta coffee trees; about 52% of the total coffee tree population.
Initially, an estimated 240,000 hectares of land was covered with coffee of which 90% was Robusta.
Henry Ngabirano, the head of the UCDA, said over 300m improved wilt resistant Robusta coffee trees were replanted.
He said the Government had planned to plant a billion seedlings in 10 years but the programme was suspended due to lack of funding.
At the Mukono-based COREC, where the campaign was launched, over 1,000 improved low land Arabica coffee and resistant Robusta coffee has been introduced, its official, Dr. Afrikano Kangire said disclosedof COREC, said bridging research and production was the main constraint the centre faced due to limited funding.