Uganda coffee farmers work to mitigate drops after dry spell

Global Business

Uganda’s dry spell has hurt the country’s coffee exports. Ugandan coffee producers are working on measures to maximize coffee production during the harsh weather. CCTV Africa’s Michael Baleke filed this report from Kampala.

Uganda coffee farmers work to mitigate drops after dry spell

Uganda's dry spell has hurt the country's coffee exports. Ugandan coffee producers are working on measures to maximize coffee production during the harsh weather.CCTV Africa's Michael Baleke filed this report from Kampala.

Highlights:

  • Uganda’s coffee exports have dropped by 12 percent since last year. The report was from a state run coffee agency for from February 2014 to January 2015. The decline is by almost 300,000 bags and $20 million in revenue.
  • The drop was a result of the hotter temperatures and exposed plants to more pests and diseases.
  • Uganda, which grows Arabica and Robusta coffee, is among Africa’s top coffee producing and exporting countries, the climate has posed an increasing threat to the country’s top export revenue earner.
  • Coffee farmers have considered adopting modern farming methods to mitigate the climate
  • Over 1.3 million such seedlings are expected to be distributed to farmers in the next three years. It is hoped these new initiatives will reduce impact of the volatile weather on coffee plants and step up production.