farmers to processors will be registered and held accountable in some cases because they also benefit from some of the bad practices.
He also said UCDA wants to enhance local consumption which would boost value addition in Uganda instead of having to take coffee outside the country. He said, the limited local consumption is discouraging value addition.
“We want the review to focus on the management of diseases and pests, guarantee clear access of the Authority to the farm level for monitoring, prohibit the sale of coffee from the garden, inspect the coffee taken to the market, registration of players among others,” he explained.
The 11-member new board whose term runs until 2017 is led by Perez Bukumnhe who took over from Eng. Fabian Tibeita.
Other members are, Henry Ngabirano, UCDA Managing Director, Valentine Okot Otamu and Gerald Sendaula as farmers’ representatives, Rose Kato and Ayub Kalule representing processors as well as Hannington Karuhanga, and Robert Nsibirwa representing exporters.
The others are Beatrice Byarugaba from the Agriculture Ministry, Dr. Albert Musisi from the Finance Ministry and Silver Ojakol from that of Trade.
Bukumunhe said change of attitude and promotion of fertiliser use will be prioritised.
“We want coffee farmers to adopt the culture of thinning, and addition of fertilizers. This is the only way we shall benefit from coffee,” he said.
He also promised to involve students in higher institutions of learning and equip them with coffee farming skills to increase the number of youths in the coffee sector.
Felix Kalanzi a farmer in Kalungu district that the New Vision talked to lamented that his earning from coffee have declined greatly.
Source: newvision.co.ug/news/656714-coffee-regulations-for-review.html
