The Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) remains optimistic about hitting its target of 20 million coffee bags by 2030.
However, the Director of Development Services at UCDA, Gerald Kyalo, has warned that limited government funding for seedling distribution could hinder this goal.
Uganda’s coffee sub-sector has seen significant growth recently, largely due to efforts across the coffee value chain.
A key factor in this growth has been the implementation of the Coffee Roadmap, launched by President Museveni in 2017.
The target is clear: 20 million bags of green coffee beans by 2030.
While stakeholders are striving to achieve this, the industry faces ongoing challenges.
Efforts to address these issues and capitalise on market opportunities are giving the sector a positive outlook.
According to UCDA’s 2023 report, coffee production in 2018 stood at 4.8 million bags (60kg).
Production showed resilience, increasing to 8.1 million bags (60kg) in 2018, with a projected target of 20 million bags (60kg) by 2030.
Despite this upward trajectory, access to seedlings for farmers remains a significant hurdle.
Senior researcher Nakazzi Florence from the Economic Policy Research Centre believes more focus is needed on empowering farmers.
She emphasised the importance of providing high-quality seedlings and increased government investment in the sector.
“In my opinion, we won’t hit that target unless we improve labelling and packaging,” Nakazzi said.
Even with strides in boosting coffee production, Kyalo believes that limited government funding is severely crippling the sector’s sustainability.
Coffee remains a cornerstone of Uganda’s agricultural sector and economy.
Addressing the challenges and leveraging opportunities will be crucial for maintaining and improving Uganda’s performance in the global coffee market.
