Coffee agriculture is an important economic activity in the Mbarara district, with approximately 35,000 households engaged in cultivation.
In recent years, many farmers have moved to coffee production in hoping to take advantage of the global price hike.
However, despite the promising market, they continue to face challenges such as drought, high production costs and market exploitation.
The glorious enamel, a peasant of Bubea and Mutomo in Kashari, Mbarara district, shares a struggle against the high costs of drought, pests and fertilizer, particularly.
“Coffee requires a lot of attention, including fertilizer and continuous sprays. Both are expensive. They are forced to buy expensive fertilizers to increase yield,” she explains.
Despite the financial burden, Tunanukye encourages farmers to explore affordable alternatives like organic fertilizers.
“I encourage fellow farmers to embrace organic fertilizers that are more affordable at the household level,” she adds.
Tunanukye continues to work on producing quality coffee, noting that government support encourages farmers to invest more effort and resources.
However, droughts have made farming even more difficult. She recalls receiving water manually from the swamp and spraying coffee plants, a time-consuming and expensive task.
“In Kashari, we are seriously affected by drought, which is a concern for us as it affects coffee production despite the good prices. Pests and diseases also reduce yields, and the high costs of fertilizer add to the struggle,” she says.
Sign up for the AllAfrica newsletter for free
Get the latest African news
success!
Almost finished…
You need to check your email address.
Follow the instructions in the email you sent to complete the process.
error!
There was a problem processing the submission. Please try again later.
Despite their resilience, local farmers still haven’t enjoyed the full benefits of rising coffee prices. Many continue to be exploited by intermediaries who use limited market knowledge.
To address this, Tumwesigye Lawrence, senior agricultural officer in Mbarara district, encourages farmers to join the cooperative.
“We are urging farmers to form a society of coffee cooperatives, which allows them to access training, inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides and continue to provide information on market trends. Cooperatives will strengthen their negotiation capabilities,” explains Tumwesigye.
Experts recommend adopting climate smart agricultural practices, pest-resistant coffee varieties and improved irrigation systems to increase productivity and climate resilience.
“We have built strategies that will help farmers improve coffee production and productivity, including agroforestry, the use of organic fertilizers, coffee stumping and better soil and water management,” adds Tumwesigye.
Uganda coffee exports have recorded significant growth as global demand for coffee continues to grow. According to the February 2025 Coffee Export Report, the country’s coffee exports reached USD 16,778 million, reflecting a 103.25% increase in value.
While this marks a bright future for Uganda’s coffee industry, farmers in Mbarara hope that policy, cooperative support and improved climate adaptation strategies can fully benefit from the global coffee boom.
