African Fine Coffees Review Special Edition Oct-Dec - EAFCA

Efforts by the Uganda Coffee Development Authority and stakeholders
to train and strengthen quality practices throughout the value chain
were also imperative in shifting the mindset.
Now in Uganda once a year, a day is dedicated to the crop where all
stakeholders gather to reflect on the coffee year, discuss strategies on
the future and celebrate the life of a crop vital to the survival of so
many.
Coffee is back into public foray and scarcely does a week go by without
mention of the industry in the press and media. The crop is clearly
back onto the national agenda.
Research
“All I am armed with is research” – Mike Wallace
By 2009, the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) reported
that the disease had reduced the countries Robusta Coffee Plantations
by 50% or 150 million trees, which has cost Uganda, an estimated $500
million over the past decade.
The disease, is caused by a fungus, Fusarium xylariodes, and is a major
problem for coffee farmers in Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and the
Democratic Republic of Congo
Heavy investments were poured into research and development of the
several CWD resistant lines over the decade. This investment paid off
with Coffee Research Centre (COREC) succeeding in carrying out
research on the CWD and holding the disease at bay.
Currently Uganda’s farmers demand 200 million plantlets to boost
coffee output in the next 5 or so years. Should this request be met,
output could reach 4 million bags by 2015.
Unfortunately while COREC has the capacity to raise enough coffee
wilt resistant plantlets but is operating at just 10% due to financial
constraints.
Farmers clearly needed to be supported with improved disease varieties
and also equipped with modern farming techniques to enable them to
produce improved yields.
The new varieties needed to be multiplied faster. Currently the average
Ugandan farmer produces 600kg per hectare, an output way below the
Vietnam 2000 kg per hectare. This has inclined farmers to divert their
attention to more profitable crops increasing shoving coffee to the side.
Fortunately the call for increased concerted efforts to boost support for
the coffee research in the country both by the direct stakeholders and
in the media had been heard. UCDA, COREC and the various other
stakeholders have moved greatly multiply the crop both significantly
through tissue culture.
This renewed interest in research played and still continues to play a
definitive role in the revival of this industry.
The Rise of “the” Institutions.
“Cometh the hour, cometh the man” - An
English Proverb
As the decade rolled over, Uganda saw a rise
in institutions desperately ready to solve the
various problems. Café Africa, Good African
Coffee, NUCAFE, Uganda Coffee Farmers
Alliance, Uganda Quality Coffee Traders &
Processors Association and even African Fine
Coffees Association, this magazine’s publisher,
were born of the fire to mention but a few.
Each of these organizations provided practical
and different solution to challenges facing the
industry.
The institutions further provided the perfect
incubation ground that favored the rise of
individuals and icons who soon be appointed
Ugandan coffee ambassadors around the world
in various capacities. This key positioning
further strengthened a renewed interest in the
industry.
However what remained key about the
institutions was their inability to remain
stagnant. Their constant need to innovate and
find practical solutions to the various challenges
affecting the industry.
Conclusion
“Gakyali Mabaga” – A Luganda Proverb
This is only the beginning and a fine one it has
been to watch.
In the 2011 – 2012 season alone three events
show evidence of this.
1. The La farge group operating in Uganda
under the brand name Hima Cement initiated a
3 year comprehensive concept to boost coffee
production in Kasese and Kamwenge districts;
while establishing an alternative energy source
for the plant in Kasese.
Started in late Sept 2011, the program worth
1.53 Billion Ugandan Shillings (UGX) is meant
to boost coffee production which in turn
increases the quantity of coffee husks used as
an alternative fuel for burning clinker at the
new line and to improve the livelihoods of
households through increased incomes.
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