MICHAEL N
Rt. Rev. Nathan Ahibisibwe, Bishop of South Ankole Diocese, has appealed to the government to provide irrigation systems to help improve agricultural productivity at the Diocese.
The Bishop made the call today while leading a coffee harvesting exercise at the Diocese’s 30-acre coffee farm in Kyamate. Established in 2019, the farm employs more than 50 workers daily, especially during the harvest season, which this year has lasted over two months.
He commended clergy, leaders from various political and religious backgrounds, and other supporters who have contributed to the success of the project. Bishop Ahibisibwe encouraged institutions such as churches, schools, and individuals to embrace coffee growing, noting that it remains a profitable cash crop with a strong market in Uganda.
On coffee pricing, the Bishop advised farmers against cutting down their coffee trees in response to fluctuating market prices, stressing that prices are likely to improve and that premature tree removal would lead to losses. He urged farmers to focus on producing high-quality coffee by harvesting only mature beans to enhance competitiveness on the international market.
However, he expressed concern over the prolonged dry spells, especially in July and August, which damage coffee plants and reduce yields. He appealed for government intervention through the provision of irrigation systems to mitigate the effects of drought and called for environmental protection, including the preservation of swamps and rivers that could support irrigation efforts.
Journalists present at the event praised the Diocese’s coffee farming project, noting the valuable skills and techniques they had observed, which they pledged to share with the public to promote coffee cultivation.
Workers at the farm also shared their success stories, explaining how they have benefited from the Bishop’s generosity in providing free seedlings. They said the initiative has enabled them to start their own coffee farms, join farmer associations, educate their children, and make productive use of their free time in tending to their crops.
