The coffee industry in Uganda’s Acholi sub-region has experienced stagnant production for the past three years, with yields remaining at 500,000 bags, according to Moses Asiimwe, the Northern Regional Manager at Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA). The introduction of coffee growing in Acholi in 1999 was intended to serve as an alternative cash crop to cotton and combat poverty. However, the conflict with the Lord’s Resistance Army disrupted coffee production as thousands of people were displaced into internally displaced people’s camps. In 2014, UCDA launched a nationwide initiative to replant coffee in order to increase the stagnant production, which had reached 3.5 million bags.
Asiimwe believes that the Acholi sub-region still has the potential for both production and productivity of coffee, unlike other areas of the country that have limited land available for cultivation. He envisions that the sub-region can reach a production level of 1.5 million 60-kilogram bags within the next five years. To bridge the current production shortfall, UCDA plans to distribute free seedlings to farmers in the mid-north who meet the criteria by applying for seedlings and preparing the necessary coffee holes in a timely manner. Since April 2023, UCDA has already provided 318,000 Arabica coffee cuttings and 125,300 Coffee Wilt Disease-resistant (CWD-r) seedlings to 5,211 farmers in the Acholi sub-region and has distributed a total of 9 million seedlings to farmers in Acholi, Lango, West Nile, and Karamoja sub-regions.
The region faces several challenges in coffee farming, including prolonged drought that affects the young plants from November to February and the labor-intensive task of digging holes for planting the coffee. Digging the two-foot wide and deep holes required for each plant poses a significant challenge for the farmers in the Acholi sub-region. Asiimwe advises prospective coffee farmers to start digging the holes prior to the planting season to alleviate the pressure of the demanding task.
Despite the challenges faced by coffee farmers in the sub-region, there are resilient individuals who are earning 9 million Shillings ($2,600) from just one acre of coffee. This highlights the income potential that coffee farming can offer in the area. Alfred Okwonga, the mayor of Gulu City, has been actively promoting coffee cultivation in Gulu City since March 2023. Through his efforts to raise awareness about the crop, farmers have started planting 50 acres of coffee. Okwonga has also pledged to provide seedlings to farmers who have already prepared their holes for planting.
According to a report by UCDA, coffee exports in the 2021/2022 financial year totaled 6.26 million bags, a slight increase from the previous financial year’s 6.08 million bags. However, this falls significantly short of the earlier target set by Uganda to export 20 million 60-kilogram bags by 2020, which was later postponed to 2022. Currently, Uganda’s production stands at 8 million 60-kilogram bags.
In conclusion, while the coffee industry in the Acholi sub-region has experienced stagnation in recent years, efforts are being made to increase production through the distribution of free seedlings to farmers and providing support in hole preparation. The region still has the potential for significant growth in coffee production and has the advantage of available land. Despite the challenges posed by drought and labor-intensive tasks, some farmers have achieved high returns from coffee cultivation. The mayor of Gulu City is actively promoting the crop and supporting local farmers. However, Uganda’s coffee exports still fall short of the targets set in previous years. With continued investment and support, the coffee industry in the Acholi sub-region can flourish and contribute to poverty reduction in the area.
