NELSON K
Rukungiri coffee farmers have been given valuable tips on how to maintain consistent coffee harvests year after year, with organic manuring and mulching taking center stage.
The insights come from Rukungiri’s renowned coffee farmer, Mr. Kwesiga Boaz Ruteera of Bugangari Sub-county, who is known for harvesting the largest yields in the area. In an exclusive interview with Boona Radio at his plantation, Ruteera shared the practices behind his success.
He emphasized the importance of using organic manure, applied directly to the coffee plant roots, along with generous mulching using dry plant materials to retain soil moisture across seasons. According to Ruteera, many farmers rely on artificial fertilizers to boost crop growth, but he warns that these chemicals harm soil fertility and only offer temporary results. He encouraged farmers to cultivate their fields, apply organic manure, and cover the soil with mulches to ensure healthy crops and steady productivity.
Ruteera also addressed the long-debated question of growing coffee and bananas together. While many agriculturalists have discouraged the combination, he demonstrated its success on his own farm. The key, he explained, is regular application of organic manure, careful soil cultivation, and heavy mulching, which work effectively on all types of soil, whether fertile or poor.
With land fragmentation and shortages becoming a challenge, Ruteera advised farmers to adopt the Brazilian method of coffee planting, which involves planting over a thousand coffee trees per acre—far more than the traditional 400–600 trees. This approach not only maximizes yields but also frees up land for other crops and livestock, making it more efficient than the older methods.
Ruteera’s practical approach and innovative techniques are setting a new standard for coffee farming in Rukungiri, promising higher yields and sustainable practices for the region’s farmers.
