Staff Reporter
Mbarara District Commercial Officer, Bwisho Adams, commended the Bukiro Coffee Farmers’ Society for their collective efforts in seeking education on cooperative principles and best practices for establishing a sustainable and successful cooperative. He expressed his appreciation during a one-day training session aimed at guiding the coffee farmers on forming and maintaining a vibrant cooperative society, with a particular focus on coffee cultivation and marketing.
Bwisho highlighted that the farmers’ commitment, shown by their registration efforts to form a cooperative society, is a positive step toward creating a strong, cohesive group capable of achieving goals like collective bargaining, collective marketing, and adding value to their coffee. He emphasized the importance of transparency and honesty in leadership for the cooperative’s long-term success.
Rauben Keimusya, Regional Manager of the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) for the South Western region, informed the farmers about the upcoming coffee farmer registration process, which will help them comply with European Union (EU) regulations. He explained that in 2023, the EU introduced a law that restricts the import of products, including coffee, that were grown on deforested land after 2022.
Tom Karuhanga, Mayor of Bukiro Town Council in Kashari South, Mbarara District, advised the coffee farmers to focus on selecting high-quality coffee varieties to improve production and attract better buyers. He noted that the “cutting” variety is currently popular worldwide and holds strong appeal in the international market due to its large coffee beans.
