Coffee Sector Progress Impresses Agriculture Minister

The Minister of State for Agriculture Fred Bwino Kyakulaga hailed the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) for efforts committed to developing the sector, with the East African nation now ranking the second largest coffee producer and the largest exporter on the continent.

UDCDA says the country currently produces 8 million 60kg bags, with exports standing at 6.08 million 60kg bags for the year ended 2020/21.

“I am excited because I just learned that 85% of export earnings come from Agriculture. Out of that, coffee is the biggest contributor,” Minister Kyakulaga said while meeting the Authority’s management team at Coffee House as part of his orientation in his new posting.

“[Because of that] a trend of decline in the coffee sector [in the 1990s] has been reversed,” he added. “I have been following in the local press,” Hon. Kyakulaga said.

“The story is very exciting and pleasing about the increase in the exports and the revenues the country is getting. The developments in the sector are a great achievement. I am excited to join the team.”

UCDA Managing Director Dr. Emmanuel Iyamulemye revealed that coffee accounts for about 13-15% of total export earnings and is the second-highest foreign exchange earner for the country.

The minister, however, noted despite coffee being one of the biggest earners of foreign exchange, its budget is not commensurate with its requirements for even better performance.

“We shall get back on the table and harmonize this. We shall advocate for correcting that picture. We must feed our cash cow well. If we don’t do that, how do we expect to achieve the targets of the Coffee Roadmap?” Kyakulaga asked rhetorically.

UCDA aims at producing 20 million 60kg bags of coffee by 2025.