Senior Reporter
Coffee farmers and traders who compromise the quality of coffee by harvesting immature beans, whether due to poverty or ignorance, negatively impact both national coffee quality and the foreign market, thus harming the national economy. These individuals should be arrested and charged with sabotaging government programs.
RDC Mbarara, Turyabagyenyi Emmanuel Kateera, made this statement during a meeting with the agricultural and veterinary staff of the Mbarara district local government. The meeting focused on reviewing and planning vaccination progress against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), the Parish Development Model (PDM) program, and coffee growing management.
Held at the district agricultural board room at district headquarters in Kamukuzi, Turyabagyenyi emphasized that producing high-quality coffee is a government-supported initiative. This program encourages people to grow coffee and ensures proper processing from the gardens to the factory for packaging and export.
Turyabagyenyi explained that any coffee farmer or trader caught compromising the coffee quality process would be arrested and charged with sabotaging the government program. The engagement meeting, chaired by the soon-to-retire Mbarara district production officer, Robert Tumwesigye, recommended that parish chiefs, town agents, town clerks, and sub-county chiefs cooperate with local council leaders. They should monitor, identify, and report any suspected farmers and traders compromising coffee quality for legal action.
The meeting condemned the drying and management of coffee in substandard environments and advocated for regular sensitization programs to raise awareness.
